Kyle Walker Issues Stern Warning Ahead of Manchester City’s Clash with Liverpool
Kyle Walker has cautioned that Manchester City could be “walked over” by Liverpool if they fail to improve before their crucial Premier League showdown next weekend.
City suffered a shocking 4-0 defeat at home to Tottenham on Saturday, marking their fifth consecutive loss—something the club hasn’t experienced since 2006. The loss leaves City five points adrift of league leaders Liverpool, with the gap potentially widening to eight points if Arne Slot’s side beats Southampton on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola’s team faces a packed schedule, with a Champions League clash against Feyenoord on Tuesday before the massive trip to Anfield. A loss to Liverpool could see City fall 11 points behind in the title race, a daunting prospect Walker insists they must avoid.
“It’s a great game to turn it around and take three points from the team who sit above you,” Walker told Sky Sports. “But we can’t put in a performance like that or we’ll get walked over. We have a Champions League game to prepare for that massive game on Sunday and keep within touching distance of Liverpool.”
When asked about the team’s current slump, Walker denied they’ve completely lost their confidence but admitted the need for a reset. “I wouldn’t say we’ve lost confidence together. I’ve spent eight years with this group. You lose confidence as a team, but we have to remember what we’ve achieved together. What we’ve achieved in the past means nothing—it’s history.”
He continued: “We have one team above us doing really well. We’ll keep fighting to the end as we always do. The best way to turn this around is on Tuesday. Hopefully, the mojo comes back, and we see the normal City from the past eight seasons. Your powers don’t just go. We know our qualities and weaknesses. You get a win, you get your confidence, and we’re back to how we used to feel.”
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola acknowledged that City’s title hopes could be effectively over if they lose to Liverpool. “Yes. In terms of Liverpool winning, winning, winning, it’s true,” he admitted. “I don’t know what is going to happen, but the reality is here, and we have to win games.”
Guardiola also reflected on the high standards his team has set. “Maybe the expectation is so high, but we are not ready to start thinking about what is going to happen at the end of the season. In the end, if we don’t win [the league], it’s because we don’t deserve it. We won it in the past because we deserved it.”
With City in desperate need of a turnaround, the coming week could prove pivotal in determining the fate of their Premier League campaign.
