Liverpool beat Manchester City 2-0 to open up a nine-point gap at the top of the Premier League and an 11-point gap over the reigning champions
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Phil Foden of Manchester City looks dejected
Phil Foden is part of the Man City side left 11 points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Manchester City stars are still reeling from Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Liverpool, which left them 11 points adrift of Arne Slot's Premier League leaders. Phil Foden is the latest to put out a message in the wake of his team's growing challenge.
The repercussions of the latest Liverpool vs City clash were even bigger than most recent meetings between the two clubs as it would define the outlook of the title race creeping closer to the halfway stage of the season. Either the Reds would be nine points clear of second - and 11 of their opponents, the reigning champions - or the opportunity would go begging.
Maintaining their fine form, Slot's men ensured at was they that prevailed and the former outcome achieved. Pep Guardiola's side, on the other hand, were sent back down the M62 disappointed with their seven-game winless streak.
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It is still extremely early days and nobody in any Premier League dressing room will be worrying about getting their hands on the trophy at this stage, they will be taking it game-by-game. But for Man City, who have done so in the last four seasons, the possibility of a fifth-in-a-row is slipping, and their stars are crumbling under the pressure.
Foden - who is still yet to score in the current league term - seems to be the latest to feel the need to goad the Reds with how many titles he has won, following his manager's six fingers gesture in the Anfield dugout on Sunday.
The 24-year-old posted to his Instagram story on Tuesday afternoon, firstly to show off his PFA player of the year award from last season, then followed up with an edit that displayed the six Premier Leagues, three League Cups, two FA Cups, one UEFA Champions League, one UEFA Super Cup and one FIFA Club World Cup he has won during his seven-year career.
Phil Foden posted twice on his Instagram story
Phil Foden posted twice on his Instagram story
Phil Foden posted twice on his Instagram story
Phil Foden posted twice on his Instagram story(Image: Instagram / philfoden)
Liverpool will be well aware of Man City's ability to fight through adversity to win the league title, as they have been the team trumped on two recent occasions. They have also witnessed Arsenal slip to Guardiola's side in the final stages of the last two seasons.
But the three key factors that are different this time around are an aging core to their squad, a season-ending injury to Rodri and their current run of results is one they have never had to overcome before.
In the simplest of terms, for Man City to win the league, Liverpool would have to drop 12 points in their remaining 25 fixtures as they make up that tally. That is with hoping Arsenal, Chelsea and Brighton all cede the ground they now have over them too.
It is fair to say the current champions appear to be in uncharted waters when it comes to the Guardiola era.