Despite Man City current setback, they are in the Runner-up position with a 5-point gap over Liverpool. If the performance continues to deteriorate in the next 2 matches, Chelsea will be even more ambitious to seize their position. Man City lost many foundation players so it's not just Rodri and honestly even if Rodri is there, it's still not a guarantee that the performance will be stable. Or what if Man City performance doesn't decline but other teams have developed better?
It is not so much about the current setback, it is the performance over the last four games. Now the 5-point gap shouldn't be underestimated because Liverpool is serious about it this season - they are not joking around. There is soon the match when Liverpool is playing against Manchester City at Anfield Road. Guardiola knows that this could be the first knockdown of the season if they lose that game.
I thought that Liverpool would be the team being in more trouble now, but it's quite the other way around. They have got the best defense in the Premier League by far and it is no coincidence as the game against Bayer Leverkusen has shown. They are a high quality team that is in for the title race for sure.
This is the first time under Guardiola's leadership, feeling the pressure. Manchester City are in trouble after losing four consecutive matches in all competitions. Should everything be questioned at this blue club as the injury list grows longer? Manchester City's defense is currently in a state of alarm, with Pep Guardiola forced to rely on 19-year-old center-back Jahmai Simpson-Pusey in the match against Brighton.
Five points behind title rivals Liverpool before the international break. If they do not find a solution to overcome the injury storm and regain their form soon, the Etihad team risks being left behind by Liverpool in the championship race as soon as December ends, similar to the scenario that happened in the 2019/20 season.