Manchester City are five points off leaders Liverpool yet are still the heavy favourites to clasp hands on a fourth consecutive Premier League title.
The Blues have a game in hand, so the gap could be cut to two soon enough which is mincemeat to Pep Guardiola. He has seen his side recover from deficits of eight points to clinch the title before and City are yet to get into their groove this season.
The holders are a game down due to their participation in the Club World Cup, where they completed the elite club silverware set by lifting the trophy in Saudi Arabia.
They entered the tournament having won just one of their past six league matches with several key players injured. ALSO READ: Guardiola rates Man City title chances ALSO READ: When Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku will return Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku did not step onto the pitch in Jeddah, but Kevin De Bruyne’s light training session got Blues fans excited.