Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that his team’s Premier League title chances could be in jeopardy if they lose to Liverpool at Anfield next weekend.
City suffered a crushing 4-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, marking their fifth consecutive loss across all competitions and their third straight league defeat. The defending champions now face a critical week, with a Champions League fixture against Feyenoord on Tuesday before their crucial trip to Anfield.
Liverpool, currently five points ahead, can extend their lead to eight points with a win over Southampton on Sunday. Should City lose to Liverpool, they could find themselves trailing by 11 points—a gap Guardiola admits might be insurmountable at this stage of the season.
“Yes, it’s true,” Guardiola admitted. “Right now, we’re not focused on the title. What matters is winning the next game, starting with Feyenoord. Qualification for the Champions League is our priority, and from there, we’ll rebuild step by step.”
City’s form slump is unprecedented under Guardiola, with the team conceding 14 goals during this five-game skid. Defensive injuries have compounded their struggles, with John Stones forced off at halftime against Spurs.
“We’re a bit fragile right now, that’s clear,” Guardiola said. “We need to break this cycle because victories bring positivity and confidence. After eight years here, I knew this kind of drop would happen eventually. Losing three league games in a row is unexpected, but football—and life—has its realities.”
Meanwhile, Tottenham delivered a counter-attacking masterclass to climb to sixth in the league. James Maddison, celebrating his 28th birthday, scored twice before second-half goals from Pedro Porro and substitute Brennan Johnson sealed the win.
“You don’t come to a place like this expecting such a convincing result,” Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou said. “City challenge you in every way, but our players showed resilience, weathered the storm, and stayed true to our beliefs. This performance reflects our progression.”
The defeat adds urgency for City as they prepare for a defining week in their campaign.
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