Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has doubted whether Manchester City are capable of regaining the Premier League title from Liverpool this season.
The Citizens have struggled for consistency in the early weeks of the 2020-21 campaign, picking up just 12 points from their first seven games to sit in 10th position in the table.
Ex-City defender Micah Richards has admitted that he was "astonished" Pep Guardiola's side did not sign another striker over the summer, and Keane is also of the opinion that the Manchester giants will struggle to win the league due to their lack of options in the final third of the field.
"I think it's going to be very difficult for City to win the league this year," Keane told Sky Sports News. "There was no way they were going to keep up what they've done over the last two or three years, the same for Liverpool.
"City, when you look at their squad, and the players they've lost, but also to go into the season where they're expected to challenge for every competition they're in, to have two strikers - and [Sergio] Aguero being 32, having one or two problems - and then just hanging your hat on one striker, they'd have to be critical of themselves, why they didn't strengthen in the summer with a striker.
"I know there were other positions they wanted to fill, a centre-half I suppose was a priority. They've got nobody but themselves to blame for being short on strikers. You have to have strength in depth - particularly if you're expected to challenge for all the major trophies. I don't see City winning the league this year."
City will continue their season away to Tottenham Hotspur after the international break.
Matt Law
