Ilkay Gundogan has issued a stark warning about the challenge facing Manchester City as they prepare to visit Premier League title rivals Liverpool on Sunday.
The experienced midfielder acknowledges it’s a game City simply cannot afford to lose.
Man City broke a run of five consecutive defeats across all competitions with a dramatic 3-3 draw against Feyenoord in the Champions League on Tuesday.
However, the result felt like a missed opportunity, as Pep Guardiola’s side squandered a 3-0 lead, built on two Erling Haaland goals and Gundogan’s second strike since rejoining City from Barcelona in the summer.
The late collapse has only intensified questions about whether the reigning champions, who have dominated the Premier League with four consecutive titles, are showing signs of decline.
Guardiola, who recently extended his contract for another two years, now faces an uphill battle with his injury-depleted squad arriving at Anfield in uncharacteristically poor form.
Meanwhile, Liverpool, rejuvenated under Arne Slot, have enjoyed a sensational start to the season.
The Reds have won 16 of their first 18 matches under the Dutchman, who succeeded Jurgen Klopp in the summer.
Ahead of the weekend showdown, Liverpool will host Real Madrid in the Champions League tonight, brimming with confidence.
Currently eight points clear of City at the top of the Premier League, Liverpool could stretch their advantage to an imposing 11 points with a win on Sunday – a gap Ilkay Gundogan concedes might be impossible to close.
When asked about the significance of the match, the 34-year-old admitted it is a pivotal moment in City’s season.
He said: “To stay in the title race probably, yes, because 11 points would be a huge gap. It’s still early in the season.
“There are still a lot of games to play and a lot of things can happen, not just on our side but at every other team.
“But obviously we have to look at ourselves and try to do the things we can do better, as quickly as possible.
“We take it, stay humble, head down and try to put in the work in the next few days and prepare as well as possible for a tough game.”
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