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."
Home » News » News » Neymar to miss Man Utd tie after being ruled out for 10 weeks Neymar to miss Man Utd tie after being ruled out for 10 weeks On January 30, 2019 1:33 pm In News , Sports by
Neymar to miss United tie after being ruled out for 10 weeks
UK Rescuers Launch Bid To Recover Body From Emiliano Sala's Plane British crash investigators on Tuesday launched an underwater operation to recover a body from the wreckage of the plane
UK rescuers attempting to recover body from Sala's plane
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
Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino remained defiant despite his side preparing for their Champions League semi-final second leg against Ajax Amsterdam in disjointed fashion as they had two men sent off in a 1-0 defeat by Bournemouth.
Pochettino defiant as poor Tottenham form continues
Juventus achieved their objective, despite everything going wrong - Allegri Juventus finished top of their Champions League group despite slipping to a shock defeat to Young Boys.
Juventus achieved objective, despite everything going wrong
betandwins.com/2018/12/12/juventus-achieved-objective-despite-everything-going-wrong-allegri/
"We achieved our objective by winning the group, even on a night where everything seemed to go wrong," Allegri told Rai Sport. "We missed so many opportunities and gifted a penalty, so at the end of the day it was only right that we lost. "[Dybala's disallowed goal] was offside.
Champions League: Juventus achieved their objective, despite
Football: 'We want Messi to always be at Barca', says club president Bartomeu. We want Messi to always be at Barca, whether that's playing on the pitch or being linked to the club (after he
We want Messi to always be at Barca, says Barca president
Man City surge clear through Sterling as Spurs suffer (Reuters) - Raheem Sterling's hat-trick in Manchester City's 3-1 win over Watford lifted the champions four points clear at the top of
Manchester City surge clear through Sterling as Spurs suffer
Jorginho fired Chelsea to a 2-1 win at struggling Fulham on Sunday as Blues keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga began to make amends for his Wembley mutiny with an impressive display. Maurizio Sarri's side
Jorginho fires Chelsea as recalled Kepa shines - IsportNG
Neymar "cried for two days" after injuring his right foot for a second time in January, he told Brazilian television according to an excerpt of an interview broadcast on Tuesday. The 27-year-old Paris Saint-Germain star recognized that damaging the same metatarsal he hurt in February 2018
Ligue 1: Neymar cried for two days after his latest injury
Ramsey moving to Juve on five-year $62m deal, Football News
Mauricio Pochettino has focused heavily on Spurs' mentality during the build-up to the final in Madrid (Adam Davy/PA) The Argentinian, who also designated 45 minutes each day to the mental preparation, is a self-confessed spiritualist and believes in fate, destiny, energies, and auras.
Football News: Christian Eriksen's 88th-minute goal finally broke Brighton and Hove Albion's brave resistance to give Tottenham Hotspur a precious 1-0 victory on Tue late goal secures precious
Soccer: Eriksen's late goal secures precious win for
Tottenham's Kane has been ready to play for 10 days - Pochettino "Harry Kane is one of the best strikers in the world and of course for a team like us it's a massive impact to have him
Tottenham's Kane has been ready to play for 10 days - Pochettino
global.espn.com/football/tottenham-hotspur/story/3780850/tottenhams-kane-has-been-ready-to-play-for-10-days-pochettino
"I hope he will be a massive boost for us," Pochettino told a news conference. "Harry Kane is one of the best strikers in the world and of course for a team like us it's a massive impact to have him available. I'm so happy to have all the players, but we can't hide that he's one of the best strikers in the world." Editor's Picks
Tottenham vs Liverpool Betting Tips: Kane to return with a
watch premier league live in stream
watch champions league live stream gratis
watch coppa america live streaming manchester united
watch champions league live streaming video
watch soccer online free streaming live english
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
watch premier league live streaming live free
watch soccer live streaming xbox
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming crictime
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
where to watch premier league live streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch coppa america live streaming philippines
watch champions league live streaming eng
watch soccer online free streaming live first row
watch tamil nadu premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch coppa america live streaming video
watch soccer live streaming kenya
watch coppa america live streaming bola
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
best site to watch live soccer streaming
watch coppa america live streaming total sportek
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
watch champions league live streaming live
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
watch soccer game live espn
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch premier league games live stream
watch indian premier league live stream online
khan tv pw watch indian premier league 2018 live streaming
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch soccer online free streaming live india
watch premier league stream reddit
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch premier league live streaming youtube
watch coppa america live streaming now
tv soccer live stream sky
watch champions league live streaming now
watch soccer live streaming mobile
watch premier league live streaming online
watch premier league live streaming video
watch coppa america live streaming match
watch champions league live streaming ptv sports
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo7
watch premier league live streaming xbox one
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch premier league live streaming live
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
watch coppa america live streaming india vs england
watch coppa america live streaming uk
watch coppa america live streaming canada
soccer tv live football streaming reddit
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch live streaming soccer world cup
watch champions league live streaming xbox
watch live soccer streaming free android
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
watch usa soccer live stream
watch champions league live streaming bt sport
watch everton vs tottenham live soccer streaming
watch english premier league live streaming
watch sky sports premier league live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch coppa america live streaming spain
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch coppa america live streaming world
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming usa
watch soccer online free streaming live p2p
watch soccer aid live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch champions league live streaming mobile
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
watch coppa america live streaming without cable
watch coppa america live streaming free online
watch soccer live streaming xfinity
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch champions league draw live streaming free
watch the premier league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch live soccer streaming on android
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
watch champions league live streaming crictime
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
#freekickerz #manchestercity #premierleague #realmadridcf #americanfootball #soccer #Vip45 #manunited #linkstreaming #football #realmadrid #serieatim #realmadrid #england #coyg #ballondor #afcnews #manchestercity #vip #neymar #ignoranza #footballmeme #manchesterunited #GarageCafeDxb #watchlive #frasitrap #liverpool #arsenalnews #rockstar #mancityvsliverpool #24x7 #kickoff #football #chocolate #4Series #footballschedule #panini #adidasslipon #comics #golf #manchestercity #frasirap #liverpoolcity #firmino #uefanationsleague #cristianoronaldo #433skills #petercrouch #bayervshoffenheim #footballdubai #myfootballuniverse #comico #goodday
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen