Liverpool v Man City: Is Anfield game win or bust for Pep Guardiola’s side?

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Liverpool v Man City: Is Anfield game win or bust for Pep Guardiola’s side?

As shown above, Manchester City are no strangers in turning around a sticky patch of form to go on to win the league.

In fact, in four of Guardiola’s six Premier League title-winning seasons, they have overturned gaps of eight points or more.

An ability to recover from a string of poor results and embark on a relentless winning streak, particularly towards the latter stages of the campaign, means no-one dares to write them off in a title race.

But, for once, history is not on their side. Going by the statistics, an eight-point gap feels doable, but to come from 11 behind is something they have not done before – and not many others have either.

Based on their current form, serious doubts are being aired.

Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman said on BBC Radio 5 Live: “You know now that if you can get a bit of momentum in a game you can actually ***** Manchester City away at the moment. They concede one, they look like their doors are opening.

“It seems to be a mental thing. The game management does not seem to be there. They keep making mistakes or leaving an opportunity for the opposition.”

Former Blackburn striker Chris Sutton said City look “fragile” and clearly “lack belief”.

“Can they recover overall?” he added. “Maybe we’re at the stage where we’re looking at Manchester City and wondering can they recover that confidence?”

It is impossible to ignore the significance of injuries to Rodri, Ruben Dias, John Stones, Kevin de Bruyne, Jack Grealish and even Oscar Bobb.

“Historically, you know City can do it but they look so depleted at the moment,” said former Brighton striker Glenn Murray.

“The result [against Liverpool] will have a huge swing on the title race.”

Former Liverpool and Scotland midfielder Don Hutchison said “there is no way back” for Guardiola’s side if they lose at Anfield, but a victory would change the conversation.

“They are capable of putting a stretch of wins together,” he added.

“If they can get their season back on track with a result at Anfield then we will all change our tune and say they are back. It is a game that has enormous pressure for City.”

Guardiola has committed himself to the club for the next two years but will have to pull off one of his greatest feats if City are to have a chance of lifting an unprecedented fifth consecutive trophy come May.

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