Without De Bruyne presence in the line up, Man City seems to have lost much of its creativity. It must be admitted that De Bruyne is a very important figure, and when he is available again Pep will easily implement any strategy when competing. The opportunity to reduce the difference in points with Liverpool and overtake Aston Villa and Arsenal is still quite open, overall City chances of retaining the EPL trophy are still maintained.
Liverpool and Arsenal are challenging Man City in very different ways this season, we have seen their previous meetings, so Pep Guardiola must be fully alert if he wants to be successful at the end of the season, and I think City management will move in the January transfer window to add several players.
The absence of Kevin de Bruyne that makes Mancity's unconvincing form really proves that KdB is really a great player. His role in mancity's display emphasizes the creativity of mancity's team. The anticipation of his return suggests a potential boost to Manchester City's strategic flexibility under Pep Guardiola. Mancity losing their spot on top of the league since the absence of De Bruyne and Rodri really shows that Guardiola has lost his flexible tactics.
Mancity's effort to defend their league tittle is now facing a tough competition with three teams; Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Arsenal, who are above them right now. This makes the challenge even tougher for Mancity and Guardiola. The recognition that each team poses unique challenges, because in previous meetings, Pep Guardiola need to stay vigilant and adapt his strategies accordingly. Januari transfer window could be one of potential solutions to address any shortcomings or reinforce the squad for the remainder of the season.