Pep Guardiola must take advantage of the January transfer market if he wants to change or make his team rise and Manchester City management must also fully support it, otherwise I think their slump will be even deeper.
It has been only Haaland in striking for them this season, he needs another striking option just as he needs new defensive options and another option in defensive midfield. Manchester City are slowly drifting far from any chance to defend their title again, and Chelsea although the coach refuses to admit it are shockingly the title contenders this season, currently in the race with Liverpool. If Chelsea do not face problems later with injuries, or fatigue, they can actually win this season.
It is very, very unlikely that Manchester city will defend their title this season. The team is in obsolescence state, and it will take total rebuilding for them to get back to a competitive state, because the way they collapsed late in the match against Manchester United is very shocking. A proper Manchester city team we used to know can't collapse like that. Chelsea team won't grow fatigue, because they almost have a different team that's playing for them in the conference league. Some of their best players are specifically reserved for the premier League matches only. Chelsea will remain consistent for the remainder of the season. Chelsea has everything it takes to win the premier League this season, because currently there is no team they can't beat in the premier League. Gradually Liverpool is dropping points and Chelsea are closing in on them. The league is just between them and Liverpool, because I don't consider Arsenal as a real threat to them anymore. Manchester city are already out of the race, so there is no point considering them as title contenders anymore. They need to reinforce especially in midfield and defense, because that's where their major challenges are coming from.