Manchester City’s hunt to win a fifth consecutive Premier League title has hit a speed bump recently.
Having lost their three previous league matches, City have found themselves eight points behind Liverpool at the top of the table.
In fact, City will play Liverpool at Anfield later today, in the hope that they can cut the gap down to five points.
One figure from City’s squad who will be hoping to help his side do what they’ve only done twice in the Premier League era – win at Anfield – has now made a claim about this afternoon’s opponents that should interest supporters of both sides.
Phil Foden makes ‘less pressure’ claim about Liverpool ahead of Man City clash
In a recent interview, Phil Foden gave this honest assessment of Liverpool’s title credentials and how they’ve fared in the league so far this season.
He said: “It’s not surprised me personally. I know how good Liverpool are.
“I think this season they’ve gone under the radar in terms of like a lot of people just talking about City and Arsenal again fighting for the title and not so much talked about Liverpool so I think that’s helped them in a way.
“They’ve had less pressure on their shoulders and they’ve gone under the radar and done really well. But I knew Liverpool was always going to be up there challenging for the title with the squad that they have.
“There’s still still a long way to go and we know how quickly it can change.”
Liverpool are certified title contenders
With Arsenal finishing second and pushing City closer to the title than any other side over the past two Premier League campaigns, this shows why Foden thinks people have only been suggesting those two sides as being title contenders this season.
Also, with Liverpool having their first season with Arne Slot in charge following Jurgen Klopp’s nine-year reign at Anfield, this could also be why the Reds may not have necessarily been considered title contenders at the start of the campaign.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  LiverpoolLiverpool | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 8 | 16 | 31 |
| 2 |  ArsenalArsenal | 13 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 26 | 14 | 12 | 25 |
| 3 |  Man CityManchester City | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 23 |
| 4 |  BrightonBrighton | 13 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 23 |
| 5 |  ChelseaChelsea | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 23 | 14 | 9 | 22 |
However, the Merseyside club are undoubtedly in the race at this stage of proceedings, regardless of the advantage Foden thinks they’ve had from not being talked about in the same title-winning stance as City and Arsenal.
So much so that, after the Feyenoord game, Ilkay Gundogan said City must beat Liverpool to keep their title chances alive.
Therefore, everyone at the Manchester club will undoubtedly be desperate to see Pep Guardiola’s side avoid seeing their already big mountain to climb get even bigger in terms of having to close the gap at the top of the league table.
