JAMIE REDKNAPP: The Premier League title race is nowhere near over but Manchester City are still favourites despite chastening defeat by Spurs… though Pep Guardiola may regret not signing a striker for the final stretch
- With Manchester City’s defeat to Tottenham, the title race is nowhere near over
- Liverpool’s January signing of Luis Diaz has given them another dimension
- City may come to regret their lack of a striker signing if they do not win the title
Footballers like to say they don’t look at the table. But we do. And what the Premier League table is telling Manchester City’s players right now is that this title race is nowhere near over.
Liverpool are only six points behind. They have a game in hand, and they go to the Etihad Stadium on April 9.
Jurgen Klopp’s signing of Luis Diaz has given them another dimension, too. It has increased confidence in the camp, the way he’s hit the ground running, with the Colombian showing his class against Norwich.
Manchester City suffered a chastening defeat but they are still favourites to win the title
Harry Kane defeated City on Saturday evening, showing Pep Guardiola what he missed out on in the summer. There isn’t much in the goal difference between City and Liverpool, but over the next few months, this is where we will see how costly it was for Guardiola not to sign a striker.
We know he wanted Kane specifically, and City had four bids turned down for him while Spurs held out for £150million.
City have handled not having a striker but as the title race gets tighter, they could do with an experienced forward who can score crucial goals in close games.
Titles are won with 1-0s, late winners, and that might be where City live to regret not having a recognised centre forward. Time will tell. Right now, Guardiola’s side remain slight favourites for the title, but there’s a long way to go.
Pep Guardiola may come to rue their inability to sign a striker last summer for the final stretch