Manchester City are now ten points behind surprise Premier League leaders Leicester in the table after a 3-0 defeat at Liverpool. In truth the Citizens were poor and looked far from champions on Merseyside.
In fact instead of looking up, City may have to start looking nervously over their shoulders at arch-rivals Manchester United in fifth and West Ham in sixth place. United are now level on points with City on points and the Citizens are only ahead on goal difference.
West Ham are only a point behind City. City’s saving grace may be that they have a game in-hand and are at home to top-flight whipping boys Aston Villa on Saturday. Even City at their lowest ebb should have enough quality and ability to defeat Villa.
Since the announcement that boss Manuel Pellegrini is leaving this summer the Citizens form has suffered. City won the Capital One Cup last Sunday, but needed penalties to defeat the side from Merseyside.
It is important to the development of Manchester City as a club that they are in the Champions League next season.
New boss Pep Guardiola will no doubt provide the team with fresh impetus in the new campaign, but the team needs to improve until the end of the campaign if City are to make sure the team has Champions League football for next season.
City’s Premier League campaign has not gone how many thought it would and the Citizens have underachieved this season. Pellegrini’s side finishing outside the top four is unimaginable for most observers though and they should finish in the top four at least this season.