Micah Richards names the one player who will ‘step up’ and win Man City the Premier League – not Haaland

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Having lost their past four games on the trot, Manchester City have not looked like the juggernaut they are in recent weeks.

Pep Guardiola’s men have conceded four goals and scored just two in their last two Premier League defeats against AFC Bournemouth and Brighton & Hove Albion — showing Liverpool and Arsenal that they may be there for the taking this season.

Ruben Dias sent a warning to Manchester City’s doubters who might reckon they no longer have the hunger to strive for glory to question them as it drives this group of players to succeed.

Fighting talk emerged from Kyle Walker after City’s 2-1 loss to Brighton as he claimed after the game that now was the time for the “real characters” in the dressing room to drag them out of their ongoing rut.

The senior players at the Etihad Stadium sound like they are up for the challenge.

Manchester City will especially require their big-hitters to perform after the international break due to their back-to-back contests against Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.

• READ MORE: Man City Premier League fixture list for 2024/25 season in full

Micah Richards predicts De Bruyne to lead Man City to Premier League title

City’s subsequent games against Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Manchester United and Aston Villa are tricky fixtures as well.

The Sky Blues would be intending to at least be in touching distance of league leaders Liverpool by the time the January transfer window opens if they aim to reinforce their squad.

Micah Richards initially addressed Manchester City’s losing streak on The Rest Is Football podcast, saying: “I think there’s sort of been an overreaction at times. Yes, they’ve lost four in a row but one was in the League Cup and the other was in the Champions League.”

“So it was only two league games, isn’t it? I did say at the start of the season that the difference between Arsenal winning the League and Man City winning the league, is if they were to lose Rodri or Arsenal were to lose maybe [Bukayo] Saka.”

Micah Richards went on to predict Kevin De Bruyne to lead Manchester City to their fifth consecutive league title.

“So, I think it’d be a lot closer this year, but I still think Man City will do it. And the player I think should step up, Kevin De Bruyne, I think he’s got the most experience.”

“He’s coming back from injury, yeah. And I think he will step up, not I think he should step up. They’re a different team when he’s on the side. So my bet is still on Man City.”

Micah Richards claimed Manchester City are “missing” De Bruyne after their loss to Brighton as well due to the “control” he brings to the side.

The 33-year-old has returned to full fitness, coming off the bench in Sporting CP’s 4-1 thumping of City as well as in his side’s latest loss to the Seagulls.

Nine Manchester City players have headed to international duty — with the Belgian staying at the City Football Academy alongside other big names such as Phil Foden and Jack Grealish.

Gabby Agbonlahor predicted Man City to win the league by bigger margin due to De Bruyne factor

Early into the season, Gabby Agbonlahor’s prediction about De Bruyne was that he would spearhead Manchester City to the league title by a bigger margin than the two points that separated them and Arsenal.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LiverpoolLiverpool	11	9	1	1	21	6	15	28
2	Man CityManchester City	11	7	2	2	22	13	9	23
3	ChelseaChelsea	11	5	4	2	21	13	8	19
4	ArsenalArsenal	11	5	4	2	18	12	6	19
5	Nottm ForestNottingham Forest	11	5	4	2	15	10	5	19
6	BrightonBrighton	11	5	4	2	19	15	4	19

“I think now that he is back fit and if he can be fit for the whole season, they will win the league by more than two points this time. I just look at his pass for [Erling] Haaland’s goal [against Ipswich Town]. A lot of midfielders don’t even see that ball.”

Such is the fear factor that De Bruyne still has, despite being on the wrong side of 30 and in the tenth season of his Premier League career.

The Manchester City vice-captain will be hoping that he is deemed fit to start against Spurs after the international break comes to an end.

With the quality as well as the pedigree De Bruyne has, his experience in title races can never be discounted.

If the midfield maestro intends to leave City after his contract ends in the summer, he would like to bid farewell to the club with a bang.