Manchester City are in "a really, really negative space right now" according to Citizens expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany, following last weekend's 2-0 defeat to Premier League rivals Liverpool at Anfield.
Pep Guardiola's wounded side were outclassed by a confident Reds outfit, with goals either side of half time from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah condemning the Citizens to their fourth successive Premier League loss and sixth defeat in seven matches across all competitions.
"I'm just glad it wasn't 5-0, honestly," McInerney told Sports Mole. "It sounds surreal saying this out loud but eight times out of ten I would have taken 2-0 if you had offered it beforehand, because City are in a really, really negative space right now.
"It wasn't horrific. There were moments of slight reassurance that there is some potential way back from this. It sounds weird saying that given Liverpool could have easily won 3-0 or 4-0 in that game.
"But there were some slight moments of comfort in seeing that we did steady the ship in the second half of the first half. There were some moments in the second half where City did at least progress up the pitch and show a way that City could threaten other sides again, but ultimately, City were outclassed by a more confident, fitter, more aggressive Liverpool side."
Liverpool have now moved a whopping 11 points clear of reigning champions Man City, who have slipped to fifth in the Premier League table and are two points behind Arsenal and Chelsea in second and third respectively.
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Is Man City's ageing squad lacking the hunger to win a fifth straight PL title?
Although there are still 25 Premier League games remaining, McInerney feels that Liverpool are "miles in front" of Man City and "a Herculean effort" is required if Guardiola's aging squad are to turn their fortunes around.
"I think there are real structural issues that even returning players aren't going to solve," said McInerney. "There are clearly age issues, there's clearly fitness issues and I do worry if there are slight hunger issues.
"I don't think these players for one second don't care. They absolutely do, but you cannot care as much just by default as you do several years later than you did at the start of your Manchester City tenure.
"It's not possible unless you're freakishly motivated and that's very hard to keep going again and again and again and again when you're in your 30s and you're aware that your time is coming to an end naturally.
"That one percent drop in hunger can really make such a massive difference... To turn this around it's going to require a Herculean effort. To find that energy, you have to really dig deep and I just don't know how much these players can keep doing that... there's nothing left in the tank and I worry if that's just the natural cycle of things."
Following last weekend's action, McInerney spoke with Sports Mole senior reporter Oliver Thomas about Man City's title chances, where the problems lie and how their 'rattling car' could benefit from a much-needed 'MOT', with an "absolute nightmare" fixture against sixth-placed Nottingham Forest up next on Wednesday.
Press play on the video at the top of this article to hear the full discussion.
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