Kevin De Bruyne has become the latest Manchester City player to emphasize that Pep Guardiola’s side is not currently fixated on Liverpool or the Premier League title race. However, the Belgian midfielder has not entirely dismissed the possibility of a dramatic comeback by the reigning champions.
Manchester City currently occupies fourth place in the league standings, trailing leaders Liverpool by 12 points. To make matters more challenging, Liverpool has a game in hand. Despite the gap, City’s recent performances have shown signs of improvement.
After a commanding 6-0 victory over Ipswich Town, Guardiola’s team is now unbeaten in their last five league matches. This positive streak is a stark contrast to their dismal run from late October to Boxing Day, during which they won only one game and suffered nine defeats in 13 matches across all competitions.
This season, City has already experienced six losses and five draws in the Premier League, accumulating a total of 28 points dropped. For context, during the 2019/20 season, when they finished second to Liverpool, they dropped only 33 points across the entire campaign. With a maximum of 86 points still achievable this season, City would need to deliver near-flawless performances for the remainder of the campaign. At the same time, they would require Liverpool to undergo a significant collapse in form to stand any chance of reclaiming the title.
Speaking after City’s emphatic win against Ipswich, De Bruyne reflected on the team’s situation, saying: “I don’t think we need to look at Liverpool for the moment. We just need to do a better job, get more wins, and focus on our big game in Paris. We know we’ve dropped too many points, and the goal is to win as many games as possible.”
De Bruyne’s comments underline the tough road ahead for Manchester City. With little room for error, their focus appears to be on improving their performance and winning games, rather than fixating on the title race.
While a comeback is not entirely out of the question, City’s position in the table and their inconsistent season suggest it will take an extraordinary effort to close the gap on Liverpool.
The challenge for Guardiola’s side is clear: to maintain their momentum and capitalize on any potential slip-ups from their rivals. However, given the current points difference and Liverpool’s strong form, City’s hopes of retaining the title remain slim.
