After winning an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title last season, Manchester City enter November's international break in the 2024-25 campaign sitting five points adrift of early leaders Liverpool after 11 matches played.
The Citizens are reeling after suffering back-to-back league defeat away against Bournemouth and Brighton, and have subsequently slipped behind their in-form Merseyside rivals, who have picked up 28 points from a possible 33 available under new boss Arne Slot.
Before the season began, there was a perception from many that Liverpool would not immediately challenge for the Premier League title in Slot's debut campaign at Anfield, and that Man City and Arsenal would be the most likely duo to fight it out at the summit for a third straight season.
However, the Reds have been almost faultless in the Premier League thus far, and Man City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany believes that Slot's "wonderful" side have benefitted from "playing without pressure" as "no one expected them to be there" challenging at the very top.
"I think Slot is helping his experienced Liverpool team as much as they're helping Slot," McInerney said during a discussion with Sports Mole senior reporter Oliver Thomas. "Slot has made subtle tweaks, not massive tweaks. They have changed how they play, but it's not aggressive, and it's just enough to get them motivated again.
"He's very likable Slot if I'm being honest, annoyingly, as a City fan I have to say that."
© Imago
As a Man City supporter, McInerney has admitted that he is taking Liverpool "more seriously" in the Premier League title race than a "shell-shocked" Arsenal outfit, who have slipped nine points behind the Reds following a dip in form.
Although no team in Premier League history have overturned a nine-point deficit at this stage of the season to win the title, McInerney feels that Mikel Arteta's side 'are not out of the title race by any stretch' just yet, but Liverpool are the team who Man City must keep a closer eye on this term.
Arsenal's recent wobble and Man City's run of four successive defeats in all competitions is sure to have altered Liverpool, as well as Pep Guardiola's comments following City's 2-1 defeat at Brighton last weekend.
"Maybe after seven years winning six Premier Leagues, maybe one year another team deserve it," Guardiola told reporters.
McInerney has insisted that Guardiola is being "realistic" with his assessment of the title race at this stage, and feels that it is not in the six-time Premier League winner's personality to ever concede the title.
Guardiola has been labelled as an "inherent winner" by McInerney and he believes that is what separates the City boss from his rivals and the "maybes" who are yet to push their team over the line to win silverware.
Press play on the video at the top of this article to hear the full discussion.
Oliver Thomas
