Steph Houghton believes two key Manchester City players are nowhere near their best at the moment.
Manchester City were fortunate to escape Anfield with a point on Sunday when they played out a thrilling 1-1 draw with Liverpool.
Pep Guardiola’s side actually took the lead in the first half when John Stones guided home a well-worked Kevin De Bruyne corner.
However, Liverpool fought back fiercely after the break and pulled level with an Alexis Mac Allister penalty.
Jurgen Klopp’s men had City rattled and penned deep into their own half but Luis Diaz was unable to take one of his three great opportunities.
City did have chances to win the game, too, with Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku hitting the woodwork.
Yet, it did feel as though the Blues had gotten away with one, especially when Doku did not concede a penalty in the final seconds after kicking Mac Allister in the box.
The title race has now been blown wide open with just three points separating the two sides and Arsenal with 10 games remaining.
City will need to get better if they are to win a fourth title in a row and Steph Houghton thinks De Bruyne and Erling Haaland are particularly below their best.
Steph Houghton on Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland
Houghton told Football Daily: “I think what Liverpool did yesterday, I don’t think anybody’s really done that to City for a couple of seasons now.
“I don’t think City are firing on all cylinders. I don’t think Kevin De Bruyne’s back at his best, I don’t think Haaland’s at the level that he was last season.
“I think we are conceding a lot more goals than we did last season.
“All I hear is everybody talk about is City have been in this position before with 10 games to go and they have that experience to see this period out.
“It’s not just playing Premier League games it’s being involved in FA Cup, Champions League. Arsenal are playing this midweek against Porto and they have to win to go through.
“Liverpool are special and the Jurgen Klopp factor, the fact it’s his last season, I think this gives them an extra edge.
“Because they want to go out on a massive high and even with a weakened team yesterday they caused City a lot of problems.”
No need for panic stations
City had a bad second half but they were against a sensational team at a ground they have historically struggled so much at.
The fact City even had such a controlling first half is an achievement in itself and a draw is not a bad result in the slightest.
It’s disappointing their level dropped so much from the opening 45 minutes and they allowed the lead to slip but sometimes that happens against great sides.
Despite being under the cosh for most of the second half, City did show great resolve to hold on and came within a whisker of winning it when Jeremy Doku hit the inside of the post.
Haaland set up that chance with a great pass and De Bruyne created the goal with a genius corner.
They might not be at their absolute best but they’re still capable of excellence.
