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GLASGOW -- Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers believes he will face a Manchester City side that is already better than any he came up against during his three years at Liverpool. Rodgers didn't lose any of his three games against City at Anfield and almost guided the Reds to the Premier League title in 2014 after beating Manuel Pellegrini's side in the final weeks of the season. Liverpool were ultimately pipped to the title by City and Rodgers was sacked 17 months later before taking over Celtic at the start of this season and leading them to the group stage of the Champions League for the first time in three years. Pep Guardiola is now in charge at City and has made a perfect start to the season -- winning 10 out of 10 games, including their Group C opener against Borussia Monchengladbach. And Rodgers, who saw his side thrashed 7-0 by Barcelona in their opening game, believes Guardiola has already had a huge impact at the Etihad. "They're a team that's at the very top of their game. I've watched Man City and worked against them over the course of the last four or five seasons and they've always had an outstanding group of players, hence them winning leagues and cups," he told a news conference. "But certainly the level of their play has gone up since Pep's come in. The intensity of their game has gone up and now what you see is a team working collectively with one idea. And when you have top class and world class players working to that level then they're a very hard team to contain. "We know it's going to be a difficult night but we hope it's going to be a difficult night for them. Celtic Park is traditionally a very difficult place to come and play. We've over 60-odd thousand fanatical supporters here backing us and one thing's for sure, we won't be as passive as we were in the last game." Rodgers believes that the former Barca and Bayern Munich boss has also had a big impact on former Liverpool player Raheem Sterling. The England international left Anfield in July 2015 in acrimonious circumstances to join City but struggled in his first season and then suffered a tough time at the European Championship in the summer. However, the 21-year-old has rediscovered his best form this season with four goals and six assists from his eight appearances. "I've been so proud to watch him playing this season and to the level that he's been at. I'm absolutely delighted for him because he's a great boy to work with," Rodgers added. "It was difficult for him when he left that first season. It always is when you've got so much expectation on you. You leave Liverpool for £49 million and you're expected to perform straight away. "But he's shown with a focus and a way of working and a way of playing that he's a top class player. "I think for a season or so he drifted -- maybe not so much to do with him. I think he needs to be in a clear structure and a clear way of working and when he's in that he's one of the role leading young talents -- superfast, dynamic, great in one vs. one and he's very strong. "I always look out for players I've worked with and I like to see them do well -- particularly him because he was absolutely brilliant for me. "
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