Pep Guardiola has overseen a torrid run of Man City form (Image: Getty)
Manchester City caught a stray dig from Amazon Prime commentator Jon Champion on Boxing Day.
The Premier League holders dropped yet more points with a 1-1 draw at home to Everton in the day’s early kick-off. And Liverpool streaked further into the distance with a 3-1 win over Leicester City at Anfield in the late game.
The Foxes have had a tough time of it lately, sacking Steve Cooper when they were outside the relegation zone and slipping into it since appointing Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Normally, a home clash with City would be written off as an almost certain defeat. But Champion needled Pep Guardiola’s side by pointing out, with the final words of his Liverpool coverage, that they may be the perfect opponents for Leicester to end their three-game losing run.
“They have work to do and their next game,” he said. “Well, maybe it offers hope to them… it’s Manchester City.”
The Blues won their fourth consecutive league title last season and they were firmly in the hunt during the opening weeks of the current campaign. But their fall from grace over the past two months has been spectacular.
Mohamed Salah rounded off the scoring for Liverpool, who came from behind to beat Leicester (Image: Getty)
City had the lead against Everton thanks to Bernardo Silva’s deflected first-half strike, before an exceptional Iliman Ndiaye finish drew the visitors level. Erling Haaland had a penalty to win it at the Etihad Stadium, but he placed his effort too close to Jordan Pickford, leaving Guardiola’s men with one win in their last 13 games.
They have also lost a staggering nine matches on that run, including heavy defeats against Tottenham and Sporting. Many feel that City are now out of the title race, with a 14-point gap between themselves and Liverpool, who have a game in hand.
Guardiola has substantial credit in the bank thanks to his plethora of titles since landing in Manchester. The former Barcelona boss has suggested that even Champions League qualification could be a bridge too far for his floundering players.
“When I said before, people laughed,” said Guardiola. “They said, ‘qualifying for the Champions League is not a big success’. But I know it because it happens with clubs in this country. They were dominant for many years and after they were many years not qualifying for the Champions League.
“The one team that has been in the Champions League for the past years has been Manchester City. Now we are at risk. Of course we are. Definitely.”
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1993289/man-city-amazon-prime-liverpool-jon-champion