LONDON (AFP) - English champions Manchester City slumped to a third shock defeat in four Premier League games at Leicester on Boxing Day to slip to third in the table and seven points adrift of unbeaten leaders Liverpool.
Just a few weeks ago they seemed unstoppable as they started their title defence with a 15-game unbeaten run.
However, a 2-0 reverse at Chelsea has sparked a run of three defeats in 18 days as Crystal Palace and Leicester both came from behind to hand Liverpool a huge advantage in the title race ahead of their trip to face City on Jan 3.
Here, AFP Sports looks at what has caused City's sudden collapse:
1. Fernandinho irreplaceable
City coped admirably in Kevin de Bruyne's absence for most of the campaign through injury thanks to an array of creative midfielders, but have badly missed Fernandinho's ability to play the more destructive role in midfield in the last two games.
The 33-year-old Brazilian had started every league game until Palace's visit on Saturday and is the one player in City's squad without a natural replacement.
Centre-back John Stones deputised at the weekend, while the more attack-minded Ilkay Gundogan was deployed at the base of the midfield in Leicester.
"We have to try and find solutions. Ferna was not able to play because he's injured. We have to overcome this problem," said coach Pep Guardiola, who tried to sign Chelsea midfielder Jorginho from Napoli in the summer as cover for Fernandinho.
"You have to think about how to solve it when you don't have players in a position."
2. Four competitions take their toll
Even for a squad as deep as City's, English football's unique combination of a packed festive period and an extra Cup competition can stretch resources.
Just eight days ago a strong City side beat a much-changed Leicester to reach the League Cup semi-finals and stay alive in four competitions.
Leicester boss Claude Puel claimed victory on Wednesday was vindication for his criticised team selection in the Cup tie with the Foxes fresh to spring surprises over both Chelsea and City in the past five days.
As well as de Bruyne, Sergio Aguero didn't start against Chelsea or Palace due to injury, while David Silva has also been sidelined by injury in recent weeks.
3. Missing Mendy
Left-back has also been a problem position, even as City enjoyed great success last season, due to Benjamin Mendy's knee troubles.
The Frenchman's return to fitness and form in the early weeks of the season promised to give City an extra dimension to their attacking play, but he has been sidelined again since early November.
Fabian Delph, a central midfielder by trade, has filled in at left-back, but is now facing a three-match ban, including the Liverpool game, after being sent off late on at Leicester.
4. Defending the Premier League difficult
Guardiola won three consecutive league titles at both Barcelona and Bayern Munich, but retaining the title in England has proved impossible for any team in the past decade.
A Manchester United side containing Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney were the last to do it in 2008-09.
City's record haul of 100 points last season led many to believe they would buck that trend, but it is proving tougher than expected.
"Last season, everyone said it was so easy, but I know how difficult it was," insisted Guardiola.
"Last season we were so consistent and made a lot of points. They (Liverpool and Spurs) are both so consistent."
5. Can City chase?
The question remains whether a Guardiola side is capable of chasing down a title rival to win the league in the manner Alex Ferguson's Manchester United made routine in the 1990s.
In most of Guardiola's seven title triumphs, his Barca, Bayern and City sides have been well in front by this stage of the season.
Now they have to play catch-up and their lack of reaction to going behind to Chelsea, Palace and Leicester leaves City's mentality open to question.
"We have to find an explanation," said Bernardo Silva. "It's mathematically possible, but we have to be almost perfect from now."
Man City's Sterling treated differently by British media, says Pogba. when asked whether the media treated Sterling differently because of the colour of his skin. say racism in football
Soccer: Man City's Sterling treated differently by British
Newcastle took a huge step towards securing their Premier League survival as Ayoze Perez sealed a 1-0 win against Leicester on Friday. Rafael Benitez's side moved 10 points clear of the relegation
Football: Perez heads Newcastle closer to Premier League
DUBAI (Reuters) - A political dispute in the Gulf will play out for the second time at the Asian Cup when Qatar meet hosts the United Arab Emirates in the semi-final on Tuesday. The UAE, Saudi
Hostile crowd awaits Qatar in Asian Cup semi-final against
Then I got a brace and was feeling more comfortable as games went on." "We just have to stay focused and do our job on every play." Coach (Mike McCulloch) tells us to mainly work on
Olaroiu tells Al Ahli: Forget past matches and focus on the
His performance warns Manchester City that Spurs can cope without Harry Kane and Dele Alli Lucas Moura scored a superb hat-trick as Tottenham trounced Huddersfield 4-0 The match came between
Sanchez: Spurs squad can cope without Kane and Alli
Crystal Palace 0-0 Everton: Toffees held to goalless draw
Incumbent Infantino sole candidate for FIFA presidency in
Jun 05, 2019 · Toronto's 3-point shooting (11 of 25) could well prove to be the difference if the visitors hold on for a win in the first finals road game in Raptors franchise history.
Tony highlights: A historic win and a strong night for women
the land. The lonely cry of the gyrfalcon can still be heard in the hills of Iceland. But to this day their lives are still intrinsically intertwined; some gyrfalcons dine solely on
If you don't want to eat more to reduce hunger, this article will show you how to suppress hunger without food. Hunger is one of the biggest obstacles for people trying to lose weight. And unless you learn how to control it, it can stop you from losing weight. You probably know that eating high fiber foods can reduce hunger. But did you know
Joe Cole expects Tottenham stars to be on the phone to their
Football: Klopp says he is a 'world-record holder' at winning semi-finals, as he laughs off 'unlucky' tag MADRID (AFP) - Jurgen Klopp laughed off suggestions he is an unlucky manager as he looks to halt an unfortunate run of ending up on the losing side in his last six finals as a coach when he leads Liverpool into Saturday's Champions League
'World record holder at winning semi-finals' - Klopp laughs
What is a Politically Exposed Person (PEP)? In order to ensure your organisation fully complies with the latest financial PEP regulations, it is essential that you and your team are aware of who or what a Politically Exposed Person (PEP) could potentially be.
Football: We do it our way, says Klopp after another late Liverpool win SOUTHAMPTON, United States (AFP) - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admitted his side cannot meet the heights of Manchester City's football, but they may still deny Pep Guardiola's men the title after moving top of the Premier League by beating Southampton 3-1 on Friday
We do it our way, says Klopp after another late Liverpool win
The Europa League's top scorer Olivier Giroud took his tally to 10 with his strike against Slavia Prague. Manager Maurizio Sarri says Chelsea's slow starts to the second half of matches are becoming a "big problem", after they were forced to withstand a Slavia Prague fightback before reaching the Europa League semi-finals.
Football: Chelsea beat Slavia Prague to reach Europa League
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch arsenal southampton premier league live stream
watch soccer live stream links
watch epl live streaming on iphone
watch soccer live live football streaming cr7
watch premier league live streaming youtube
watch coppa america live streaming pc
watch champions league live streaming now tv
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch coppa america live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch coppa america live streaming online
watch soccer live streaming jamaica
watch coppa america live streaming kenya
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
watch live soccer streaming free android
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch coppa america live streaming without cable
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch premier league games live stream
watch iceland soccer live stream
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
watch indian premier league live stream online
watch soccer am live stream
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch english premier league live streaming free
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online reddit
watch premier league live streaming xfinity
watch champions league live streaming bt sport
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch soccer world cup live streaming
watch premier league live stream hd
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch premier league live streaming online
watch premier league live streaming yify
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch coppa america live streaming philippines
how to watch premier league live streaming
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
watch soccer live streaming zee tv
watch soccer online free streaming live dracula
watch coppa america live streaming quality
watch soccer live stream app
watch champions league live streaming xbox
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
watch live soccer streaming on android
watch live streaming soccer world cup
watch soccer online free streaming live english
watch premier league live stream reddit
super soccer tv live streaming napoli vs juventus
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
apps to watch live streaming soccer
watch champions league live streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
watch english premier league live streaming
watch soccer live streaming kenya
watch coppa america live streaming manchester united
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
watch champions league live streaming bein sport
watch premier league darts live stream
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo7
watch soccer online free streaming live p2p
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch soccer aid live stream
watch soccer game live now
live football watch free live football streaming free soccer
watch champions league live stream uk
watch coppa america live streaming spain
best site to watch live soccer streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch sky sports premier league live streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
watch soccer online free streaming live uk
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
watch the premier league live stream
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch champions league final online free live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch champions league live streaming eng
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming app
free watch champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming mexico
watch coppa america live streaming bola
soccer tv live football streaming reddit
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch english premier league live streaming online
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
watch live streaming soccer games
watch premier league live streaming video
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo 7
how to watch champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch champions league live streaming juventus
watch the champions league live stream
watch champions league live streaming live free
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
watch coppa america live streaming hd free
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch soccer online free streaming live first row
watch premier league matches live streaming
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch everton vs tottenham live soccer streaming
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming eng
watch live soccer stream android
super soccer tv live streaming indonesia
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
watch epl live streaming free no sign up
watch afghanistan premier league live stream
watch live stream soccer games online free
#myfootballuniverse #leomessi #footballmeme #oudmehta #elcasico #bundesliga #noelgallagher #alissonbecker #zidane #league2 #golf #juventus #pagani #vandijk #uefanationsleague #chocolate #streamingbolaid #watchlive #acmilan #realmadrid #risate #messi #coys #PartyTime #lfc #soccer #sunderlandafc #GarageCafeDxb #panini #oasis #freekick #coyg #thebeatles #transfernews #Bar #satira #footballdubai #valcea #firmino #soccerbible #commentimemorabili #rockstar #tokyo #BMW #arsenal #klopp #MSport #ballondor #beatifulgame #neymar #goal #conference #cappucino #england #JUVENTUS #nikesoccer #oasisandbeatles #livestreams #mancity #433skills #copaamerica #zinedinezidane #serieatim #boxing #football #ignoranza #londoncity #gunners #linkstreaming #premierleague #hoffenhiem #sumbertv #bestshishacafedubai #nutmeg #commento #cristianoronaldo #Liamgallagher #portsmouthfc #bayern #freekicks #mane #barcelona
No comments:
Post a Comment