The Premier League title is not Liverpool’s yet, says former Reds striker John Aldridge, with Manchester City expected to “spend upwards of £100m on a centre-back” and keep themselves in contention.
“With only eight games played this season, it is ridiculous to suggest the title race is anywhere near over, but there is no denying that we are seeing vulnerabilities from Manchester City that were not there last season,” Aldridge told the Irish Independent.
“Their 2-0 home defeat against Wolves on the back of the away loss at Norwich shows that this City team have cracks that are being exposed, with their defensive frailties in evidence yet again.
“John Stones will come back soon, but I don’t see him solving defensive problems that are stemming from the reality that Nicolas Otamendi is not up to the job of holding that back-line together in the absence of the departed Vincent Kompany and the injured Aymeric Laporte.
“City manager Pep Guardiola has said he won’t spend any money in the January transfer window, but I fully expect him to spend upwards of £100m on a centre-back as soon as he can because he knows that defence will not be good enough to win the Premier League or Champions League.
“I also feel that Guardiola is more focused on European success than chasing more domestic glory now, with his celebrations as City beat Dinamo Zagreb in unconvincing fashion in the Champions League last week suggesting his sights are targeting Europe this season.
“He was jumping up and down on the touchline in that Champions League clash and has been urging City fans to create the kind of atmosphere in home matches that drove Liverpool to European glory last season, but that just won’t happen.
“Anfield on European nights is a unique experience and, try as they might, City fans will never be able to repeat it at their Etihad Stadium, so they face a tough challenge. They will need to keep buying their way to success if they are to conquer Europe.
“There are still 30 games to play in this Premier League season, so ignore anyone who tells you this title race is finished.”
obbyoHD
1019
Pep Guardiola is a great and good teacher only to good and clever students even he use a lot of money to buy good players and he convert them to World classic players like sterling..
ankitttttttttrtr
230
How many years it took l@serpool to finally won a title?
Does it matter. They are back.on top. Manc Haven't won Any European title so are they shit? Liverpool is best in history of English teams. Stats can't be argued.
sokabmsuz
212
The reason most PL fans don't respect City is because City can only spend a lot of money buying a world class player instead of finding a cheap & less well-known player and shaping them into a world class player. Simply put, "Manchester City is nothing without money."
wealthkops
94
I don’t expect Liverpool fans to keep commenting against man city we are their senior please let them grow
Pere101
69
It’s 2019 how many European champions cup does mancity have? Chelsea also won the premier league last before mancity did so did 6-0 now give mancity a European cup? Scroll up son and don’t put your mouth into what you don’t know
febakly
64
I’d like to see Guardiola coaching a smaller club and guiding to the EPL title just like Ranieri did with Leicester. I doubt he can do it without all that oil rich money.
Nepoleona
62
if you have money just signed pep as a manager and the trophy will come itself. greatest coach for me
Lukilstz
54
what is wrong if he (pep) what's to buy more center back? didn't Liverpool bought just one center back for almost 80 million pound's then why are y'all quick to nail pep that so wrong
Jamirl
51
it's not just about money, they might buy an expensive centre back but Manchester city doesn't have any defensive problems.. Liverpool has already showed Manchester city that these season would be way different than last season even if city do bring in a centre back ..we are prepared and ready we know city doesn't have any position problem be it attack midfield or centre back
kondein
46
This shows how clueless u are. Are u listening to urself? Let me educate u a bit. 1 Wijnaldum was signed from a relegated team (Newcastle) Same with Shaqiri. Am not sure Guardiola will ever sign such a player 2 Milner contract was never discussed let alone given a new contract by City. free transfer (who is Milner in man city squad? 3 U claim to know Firmino very well b4 he was even signed from Hoffenheim. pls tell us about him without checking Google 4 U said Van dijk was one of the best centre halves b4 signing for liverpool, how pls? 1, if that was so obvious to the eyes why did Guardiola turned down signing him. 2, Van dijk spent 2 n half years at Southampton n he was never i mean never rated as one of the top 20 best defenders in those years. I repeat never. 5 Allison only spent 2 seasons at Roma, made 37 appearances in Roma b4 moving to liverpool infact he was a second choice behind Szczesny. Before liverpool signed him. folks like u were the ones that was criticising such decision made by pool for wanting to sign an unproven goalie who was beating 4x against liverpool n 3x against Barca n has never won their league... so what experience does he have. 6 So Salah was dat good yet he was still playing at Roma? Salah was that good like u claimed and he played, 47x at Basel yet scored 9x in 2012-2014. Chelsea 2014-2016. App- 13 goals (3) Fiorentina App- 16 goals (6) 7 How can a club that is competing for title sign a released goalkeeper (Adrian) from West Ham i mean West ham as backup for liverpool n Matip for free. It take a genius to do that 8 Mane was a good player at Southampton. But my question is were was other coaches? if quality were easy to see why didn't they see it? why didn't they see that he can excel in a big club. Note this pls. Am not Hating on Guardiola nor City... am a fan of beautiful football but i just love the personality of both Klopp n Simeone Finally! If u can be honest n truthful to urself. Can Guardiola sign such players n make them Ucl winners? Can he make them compete with these great city teams like Klopp is doing? Well ur guess is as good as mine
Citbcdku
41
Liverpool fans are talking as if they are kids. We all know the talents your players posses from their previous teams before you bought them. Mane was already an established player both at Leipzig and Southampton before joining Liverpool. VVD was one of the best center halves in the EPL at Southampton before joining Liverpool. Roberto Firmino is a proven talent at Hoffenheim before joining Liverpool. Salah was a talent from Basel, Chelsea and even at Roma before joining Liverpool. Allison was one of the best goalies in the serie A before he joined Liverpool. I don't want to talk about James Milner cos we know him from Aston villa and man city. Wijnaldum was one of the best midfielders at Newcastle before joining Liverpool . The only difference between Liverpool and man city is, Liverpool are smart with their transfers but teams always will sell even an average player to city at a higher transfer fee. Liverpool and city won't buy the same player at the same price. If it was city who wanted VVD they would have bought him around 90 mil because Southampton may think city is rich and would buy him at any cost. So keep quite. Guardiola has turned low average players into world class players. Stop the hate.