Man City boss reflects on Tottenham humiliation and looming challenge against Liverpool.
Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that Manchester City’s Premier League title defense could be effectively over if they lose to Liverpool at Anfield next week. City’s title ambitions took a major blow after a crushing 4-0 defeat to Tottenham at the Etihad, leaving them trailing Arne Slot’s Liverpool by eight points if the Reds secure victory at Southampton.
Speaking after the defeat, Guardiola admitted the stakes of next week’s showdown. “Yes, if Liverpool keep winning, it’s true [our hopes are slim]. I don’t know what is going to happen, but the reality is we have to win games,” he said.
Guardiola didn’t shy away from the severity of City’s current struggles. “People say it can’t get worse—but it can. What we’ve achieved over the last eight years is exceptional, but it’s not eternal. I’ve said before how hard it is to sustain this level, and now people might understand,” he warned.
City have now lost five consecutive games across all competitions—their worst run since 2006 under Stuart Pearce. Guardiola attributed their slump to multiple factors. “We’re a bit fragile right now. There’s no single reason for losing three Premier League games in a row. There are many details we need to fix. But we can’t run away; we have to face it,” he said.
Spurs and Maddison Shine in Historic Win
Tottenham were ruthless in handing City their heaviest home defeat since 2002. Birthday boy James Maddison scored twice, with Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson adding to the tally. Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou praised his side’s discipline and commitment.
“City test you in every way possible—defensively, working hard, being disciplined, and playing football. In all those areas, we rose to a strong level,” Postecoglou said. “We’ve reached these standards before, but now it’s about maintaining them. You can’t be blasé about a win like this.”
Maddison reflected on the milestone triumph. “That’s a birthday I’ll cherish. Coming here and performing like that against the champions—it’s something special. You have to savor these moments because they don’t come around often,” he said.
Looking Ahead
City’s poor form has left them vulnerable, and Guardiola emphasized the need for a quick turnaround as Liverpool loom large on the horizon. Meanwhile, Tottenham’s win bolsters their confidence as they push for consistency under Postecoglou.
For City, the trip to Anfield next week now feels like a must-win game in their bid to keep the title race alive.
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