Pep Guardiola remained upbeat despite watching Manchester City's alarming slump in form continue with a 2-0 defeat at Juventus in the Champions League.
The Spaniard's side sit 22nd in the Champions League table and are at risk of missing out on the next stage of the competition with only two games left to play.
City have lost seven of their last 10 matches across all competitions (W1 D2), as many defeats as they had suffered in their previous 105 matches combined (seven).
In fact, for the first time in his managerial career, Guardiola has failed to win three consecutive matches in the group/league phase of the Champions League (D1 L2). For the Citizens, meanwhile, it is their longest such run since the 2014-15 campaign (four - D2 L2).
"We played good, really really good," Guardiola told reporters. "So we missed the last pass, the last action, of course, some transitions happen, but I'm so proud of these players, they give everything, and they tried, and now we live in this period, and hopefully we can change and get results.
"I know it's difficult, it's difficult in the Champions League in Europe, but we play really good."
City's last two matches in the group phase are against Paris Saint-Germain and Club Brugge.
The competition's new format sees the top eight teams after eight rounds of the league phase advance into the round of 16 and avoid a playoff, which is now almost out of reach for Guardiola's team.
"We have two games. We need one point maybe, one victory, the last one is at home, and the situation is because the game against Feyenoord [when City gave up a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3] and especially Inter [a 0-0 draw]," the Spaniard added.
"But our three games away were really, really, really tough, and you have to accept it. And when we turn around, we don't forget that period, we appreciate more what we have done in the past, what they are going to in the future."
Since the start of November, City have conceded more goals across all competitions than any other team from Europe's big five leagues (21 in nine games).
They have also gone eight games without a clean sheet away from home in all competitions; the joint-longest such run of Guardiola's managerial career (also a run of eight in October 2016).
Unlike his manager, Ilkay Gundogan was left frustrated with the team's performance.
"Every attack we concede is so dangerous, and we are careless in the duels," Gundogan told TNT Sports.
"Instead of playing simple, we overcomplicate things by not timing things to pass the ball or release the ball.
"We lose balls in transition every time, giving them counter-attacks. We have to chase 60 metres back and that's not what we're built for. We are built for possession, to keep the ball and be strong. If you can't do anything in the duel, don't lose it, and it's not working out for us.
"We know exactly what is going wrong, we know the reasons. We haven't played bad. If you give away one chance, and they score, it's not easy to come back.
"It's obvious what is going wrong, it's just trying to find that switch to turn things around. Even if we're not getting the results, I don't think we're far off - which maybe sounds a little stupid, but that's what I feel.
"If we don't click, it's going to be tough. Only thing we can do is for every single individual to question themselves to do better, to sacrifice more and to contribute to the team so we can collectively get better."
Alisson 'the best goalkeeper in the world', says Slot
Arne Slot paid tribute to the returning Alisson Becker, describing the Liverpool goalkeeper as the "best in the world" ahead of their clash with Fulham.
The Brazil international returned from injury in midweek, playing the full 90 minutes of the Reds' 1-0 win over Girona in the Champions League.
And Slot hopes he can build on the momentum of keeping a clean sheet, as Premier League leaders Liverpool prepare to return to domestic action after last weekend's Merseyside derby with Everton was postponed due to adverse weather conditions.
"We have an incredible goalkeeper. I said as a joke, maybe the players wanted to see how fit he was to give him so much work [against Girona]," the Reds boss said.
"He showed [on Tuesday] he is probably one of the best, in my opinion, the best goalkeeper in the world.
"Let's hope he can continue to keep bringing these performances and hope he can stay fit."
Fulham are fresh from a credible 1-1 draw with Arsenal last weekend, with the Cottagers now having lost just one of their last seven league games.
"I'm more pleased with the way our players fought [against Arsenal], the commitment, the organisation," head coach Marco Silva said.
"It's always tough when we play against them, but they know it will be tough, too. We create a difficult scenario for them.
"It was a tough week. In eight days, we played Tottenham, Brighton and Arsenal. [The players have] been great. The momentum is here for us, we have to be proud of the season so far."
Silva also heaped praise on Antonee Robinson following his consistent performances at left-back.
"He's been great for us. He's one of the best left-backs in this league," he added.
"It's not just the way he is able to stop players, but the way he is able to help. He's a top player and a great professional. He's a proper athlete and is improving in some defensive positions where we want him to improve.
"He's improving season by season, and week by week. We are really proud to have him with us."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Liverpool – Mohamed Salah
Salah is level with Erling Haaland as the Premier League's joint-top scorer with 13 league goals. He is also second to Bukayo Saka in the assists table, having provided eight.
The Egyptian has scored at least one goal in each of his last seven Premier League appearances. He has scored 99 home goals in 140 top-flight appearances, and another goal will mean he is the fourth-fastest player to reach 100.
Fulham – Raul Jimenez
Jimenez is level with Alex Iwobi as Fulham's top scorer in the league so far with five goals.
The Mexican has scored 12 goals in his last 21 Premier League starts for Fulham. Of all players with 1,000+ minutes for the club, Jimenez has the best minutes-per-goal ratio (192 minutes per goal).
MATCH PREDICTION: LIVERPOOL WIN
Liverpool are four points clear at the top of the Premier League, having played a game less than second-placed Chelsea. They are unbeaten in 18 matches across all competitions (won 16, drawn two).
Arne Slot's side have the second-best home record in the Premier League this season, having won six of their seven league games at Anfield (lost one).
They have beaten Fulham in nine of their last 12 league meetings, including in each of their last four showdowns.
Although Fulham drew 1-1 at home to Arsenal last time out, they have now won just one of their last four games in the Premier League.
While they are unbeaten in three away from home (won one, drawn two), Silva's side have managed just two wins from seven league outings on the road this term.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Liverpool – 68.6%
Draw – 17.5%
Fulham – 13.9%
Chelsea put six past Twente to continue perfect Champions League start
Chelsea maintained their three-point lead at the top of Women's Champions League Group B with a comfortable 6-1 victory over Dutch side FC Twente.
The Blues, who had already booked their place in the quarter-finals, continued their 100% record under Sonia Bompastor, extending their winning streak to 14 matches in all competitions.
Chelsea were ahead inside two minutes at Stamford Bridge through Catarina Macario's looped volley over Olivia Clark following a poor giveaway in midfield by Lieske Carleer.
But Twente restored parity soon after Maika Hamano brought down Charlotte Hulst in the box, with Kayleigh van Dooren stepping up from 12 yards to coolly convert.
However, the visitors' joy was short-lived. Mayra Ramirez combined with Oriane Jean-Francois less than a minute later, with the latter firing home with the aid of a deflection.
Ramirez notched Chelsea's third with a brilliant effort from distance with Clark off her line before Erin Cuthbert marked her 50th appearance in the competition with a goal.
The Blues increased their advantage two minutes after the break through Sjoeke Nusken's glanced header after being picked out by Hamano's clipped delivery.
Eve Perisset rounded off the scoring with a finish into the bottom corner, with the Blues now turning their focus to Leicester City in the Women's Super League.
Bompastor's side finished the contest with a mammoth 4.68 expected goals (xG) total from their 29 efforts, compared to Twente's 1.43 from 10 attempts.
In the lowest-scoring match of Wednesday's action, Celtic remain without a win in the competition after five games after being comfortably beaten 3-0 by Real Madrid in Group B.
With progression in the competition not possible, Elena Sadiku's side were playing for pride and history, in search of their first ever group-stage point.
But those hopes were dented in the 30th minute when Signe Bruun took aim from distance and curled a wonderful effort beyond the grasp of Kelsey Daugherty from distance.
The Celtic goalkeeper had been beaten seconds before by Caroline Weir, but the Scotland international was denied a goal in her homeland by the offside flag.
Their dominance deserved to be reflected in the scoreline, and Bruun's bullet header from three yards out provided the comfort Madrid's play at New Douglas Park merited.
Substitute Alba Redondo then sealed the win five minutes from time, heading the ball into the bottom right corner after being picked out by Sheila Garcia inside the box.
Los Blancos, along with Chelsea, have now confirmed their place in the quarter-finals with a game to spare, and did so comfortably, having restricted Celtic to an xG of 0.07.
In Group A, Wolfsburg joined Lyon in the quarter-finals of the competition after thumping Roma 6-1, with substitute Sveindis Jonsdottir scoring four goals at the AOK Stadion.
Alexandra Popp sensationally curled the hosts into a sixth-minute lead, but Wolfsburg were pegged back when Valentina Giacinti capitalised on a mistake at the back to level.
Popp then turned provider for Lineth Beerensteyn to restore Wolfsburg's advantage nine minutes later before Jonsdottir notched her first of the game with a well-taken finish.
The Iceland international then scored a further three times in seven minutes late on, concluding the scoring with a sweeping strike between the legs of Camelia Ceasar.
And Wolfsburg were worthy of their win. They accumulated an xG total of 2.15 from their 23 shots, with Jonsdottir contributing a team-high 0.76.
In the other game in the group, Lyon produced a similarly emphatic scoreline, sweeping aside winless Galatasaray 6-0 to maintain their perfect start in the competition.
The visitors found themselves in front in the 24th minute through Ada Hegerberg's header, before Sara Dabritz smashed Lyon two in front after Eda Karatas' poor clearance.
Jazmin Wardlow then turned through her own net before the break, as Wendie Renard put the result beyond doubt after heading home Selma Bacha's inviting corner kick.
Danielle van de Donk's low finish increased Lyon's advantage before the Dutch midfielder teed up substitute Eugenie Le Sommer to complete the rout in Turkey.
Brewster sends Blades back to Championship summit as Watford deny Selles winning start
Sheffield United returned to the Championship summit after Rhian Brewster secured a 1-0 win over Millwall at The Den.
The former Liverpool striker scored his first goal in over two years, as the Blades leapfrogged Leeds United back to the top of the table.
Japhet Tanganga and George Saville both struck the woodwork for Millwall in what was Neil Harris' final home game in charge, but Brewster broke the deadlock just before the break.
Chris Wilder's side had to remain concentrated during the second half as the hosts pushed for the equaliser, but they held out for a crucial three points.
Elsewhere, Ruben Selles was unfortunate not to begin his tenure with bottom side Hull City in victorious fashion against Watford.
Chris Bedia broke the deadlock for the hosts in the 82nd minute, and it looked like it could be enough to give them their first win since early October.
However, Rocco Vata equalised for the visitors two minutes from time to prevent the Tigers from moving off the foot of the table and out of the relegation zone.
Meanwhile, West Bromwich Albion moved back into the top six as goals from Alex Mowatt and Karlan Grant secured a 2-0 win over Frank Lampard's Coventry City.
Queens Park Rangers and Preston North End both pulled clear of the relegation zone following 2-0 victories over Oxford United and Cardiff City respectively, and the Bluebirds remain in the bottom three due to their inferior goal difference.
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