Manchester City find themselves in an unfamiliar position, coming off four consecutive losses as they prepare to host Tottenham at the Etihad this weekend. Spurs were the team that initiated City’s recent slide with a 2-1 EFL Cup victory on October 30. Shock defeats to Bournemouth, Brighton, and Sporting Lisbon have since followed, leaving Pep Guardiola’s side five points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Challenges for Guardiola’s Side
The absence of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, sidelined since September with an ACL injury, has been a significant factor in City’s struggles. Combined with the absence of key players like Kevin De Bruyne and Ruben Dias, City’s once-dominant midfield and defense have looked vulnerable.
Despite these setbacks, Guardiola’s squad remains one of the most feared in world football. With their star-studded roster, City are expected to continue their Champions League campaign strongly, but in the Premier League, the gap to Liverpool threatens to grow wider.
Liverpool, currently on a seven-game unbeaten streak, face bottom-placed Southampton this weekend, a fixture City must assume will yield three points for the Reds. This puts even more pressure on City to secure a win against Spurs and set the tone for their looming clash with Liverpool at Anfield.
A Must-Win for City
Beating Spurs is critical for Guardiola’s side, not just to break their losing streak but also to maintain morale heading into a pivotal stage of the season. With Tottenham missing key players such as Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Richarlison, City have a golden opportunity to return to winning ways.
The return of Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland’s impressive international break form (four goals and one assist in two matches for Norway) provide reasons for optimism. Additionally, Guardiola’s recent contract extension could inject confidence into the squad as they aim to regain their dominance.
The Bigger Picture
A win against Spurs would set the stage for a high-stakes showdown against Liverpool. Depending on this weekend’s results, City could either close the gap at the top or find themselves in an 11-point hole if they falter against Spurs and then at Anfield.
With their sights set on defending their Premier League crown, City must take this opportunity to steady the ship. It starts with Tottenham—a match that could define the trajectory of their season.
