Manchester City defender Fernandinho said they are "fighting like animals" to hold off rivals Liverpool and retain their Premier League crown.
Defending champions City have been locked in a thrilling battle with Liverpool that is set to go down to the wire – the sides separated by just one point with three games remaining.
City followed up last week's Champions League quarter-final heartbreak at the hands of Tottenham with a 1-0 win over the same opponents on their return to Premier League action on Saturday, before earning a 2-0 victory at neighbours Manchester United four days later.
A run of 15 wins in 16 top-flight matches for Pep Guardiola's men, including a potentially pivotal 2-1 victory against Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on January 3, leaves them at the top of the pile ahead of games with Burnley, Leicester City and Brighton and Hove Albion.
Fernandinho talked up the importance of that win against Liverpool nearly four months ago, which remains the Reds' only league loss in what has been a record-breaking campaign for Jurgen Klopp's team in terms of points accrued.
Asked about the spirit shown by City this season, Brazil international Fernandinho told reporters: "Especially last Saturday after the 'defeat' against Tottenham, the way we played from the first minute.
"We showed the desire in competing for every ball like animals. I think this is the spirit of a team that wants to be champions.
"If you look back to January, Liverpool could have been 10 points clear after our game. We didn't want that.
"We reduced the gap to four points and now we are one point up. That is the way the Premier League is going to be decided and I hope we can do our job and win those three games, and be champions again."
