Kyle Walker thinks Liverpool "deserve to be top" of the Premier League, with Manchester City caught standing still since winning a second successive domestic crown back in May.
"The opposition are probably working us out a bit," he told reporters ahead of City's trip to Burnley. "Or the opposition are getting better. We are still the same squad.
"We have changed very little. We are still adopting a professional mentality around the place.
"We have to take our hats off to Liverpool. They have been fantastic and credit where it is due. They deserve to be top, but it is not over until it is over."
Walker went on to express his belief that City will need to embark on an extended winning run in order to reign in Liverpool, with the collective talent within the Etihad Stadium dressing room more than capable of turning things around.
"We have the ability in the dressing room to go and catch anyone on our day," he added. "We have to take it game by game and keep chalking them off, getting three points, and moving on to the next one.
"Will it take a run of 14 straight wins again? That is what it will take. That's a fact."