Manchester City Bounce Back as Liverpool Slip: Title Race Takes a New Twist
Half a week can change everything in football.
After a dismal weekend that saw Manchester City fall to fifth place and an 11-point gap behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, City’s fortunes shifted dramatically with a hard-fought 2-0 victory against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday. The win, their first in 40 days, cut the gap to nine points and brought the reigning champions back into the top four.
“We won, that is the difference,” said Pep Guardiola, downplaying the result as a turning point but recognizing its significance after a torrid period. Meanwhile, Kevin De Bruyne acknowledged the team’s struggles, saying, “It’s been a hard period, but we have to accept the challenge. The Premier League is getting harder and harder, and every team is tough to play.”
Jeremy Doku, who scored in the victory, offered insights into the team’s mindset during their slump. “We were waiting for this win. We are used to winning, so when we had some difficulties, it was tough to take. We didn’t listen to the noise from the outside. We just kept working and grinding,” he said.
Reflecting on the team’s determination, Doku added, “There were no doubts about our qualities. Losing games doesn’t mean we’re bad. We worked harder every day, knowing it would eventually come together. The most important thing now is to continue.”
The noise Doku referred to included criticism of City’s form, suggestions of an aging squad, and claims they were too reliant on certain players. Doku dismissed it all: “At the end of the day, when everything goes well, they’ll hype you up. When things go bad, you’re the worst. We don’t listen. We stay in our bubble and focus on ourselves.”
While pundits have been quick to crown Liverpool champions-elect, Guardiola and his squad remain grounded. “Everybody is taking points off everybody,” De Bruyne noted. “We have to improve. First, we have to try to win games, and we’ll see in a couple of months where we are.”
Doku, however, offered a more defiant response: “They can say whatever they want. If they think it’s over, let them think it’s over. We’ll focus game by game, try to win as much as possible, and see where we are at the end.”
For a team that has dominated the Premier League and won four consecutive titles, this season presents a unique challenge. City have never been this far behind or in such uncertain form, yet the squad remains united in their belief.
Now, City must embrace the role of underdogs in the title race—a position unfamiliar but not unwelcome. With their first win in weeks secured, the focus is firmly on building momentum and silencing doubters.
Game on.