Pep Guardiola is facing a crisis at Manchester City in the eyes of many, and not since his first season in charge of the club back in 2016-17 has the Catalan coach been questioned in the way he is being right now.
Indeed, the Citizens have come under intense scrutiny after their astonishing collapse against Feyenoord in the Champions League on Tuesday night, throwing away a three-goal lead with less than 15 minutes remaining to draw 3-3 at the Etihad Stadium.
Man City's late capitulation against Feyenoord underlines the scale of the ongoing crisis within Guardiola's squad, who had previously suffered five consecutive defeats in all competitions, including three successive losses in the Premier League.
A heavy 4-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last weekend leaves Man City eight points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, who welcome a wounded and injury-plagued Citizens outfit to Anfield for an intriguing showdown on Sunday.
Man City are tasked with ending their winless run by securing maximum points against Liverpool at a stadium where they have celebrated just one victory in their last 21 top-flight visits.
Arne Slot's side enter this contest in high spirits after beating Real Madrid 2-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday, and Man City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has admitted that he is "absolutely dreading" Sunday's trip to Anfield amidst the Citizens' injury woes, their decline in form and several other "fundamental issues".
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"It's not impossible" for Man City to beat "lucky" Liverpool
However, McInerney has claimed that "it's not impossible" for Guardiola's side to come away with a positive result, while he feels that Liverpool have had "luck on their side" in the Premier League, after they were gifted all three goals in a 3-2 comeback victory over basement club Southampton last weekend.
"I don't think Liverpool were that great against Southampton," McInerney told Sports Mole senior reporter Oliver Thomas prior to City's draw with Feyenoord. "I know they won, and comfortably in terms of chances in the end, but they got a little bit lucky with it.
"They rode their luck a tiny bit there... comically bad from Alex McCarthy. I feel that Liverpool can be got at, and Man City can create chances against them. I think we will because Liverpool have still been conceding chances as good as they have been.
"Even as good as the goal difference is, [they have] the best defensive record, but they still have conceded chances. All that points towards a team that's very lucky right now, which is annoying. They've got luck on their side."
Nevertheless, McInerney has acknowledged that Liverpool are "playing with confidence" and he is wary of the threat in-form players including Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones and Mohamed Salah can pose to Man City, and he is therefore "fearing the worst" for Guardiola's defensively frail side.
McInerney has also shared his thoughts on the Premier League title race and whether defeat for Man City at Anfield would all but end their hopes of winning an unprecedented fifth successive top-flight crown this term.
Press play on the video in this article to hear the full discussion ahead of Man City's clash with Liverpool in the Premier League.
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