Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has conceded that the Premier League title could be out of reach if they suffer a defeat against Liverpool in Sunday's top-of-the-table clash.
A troubled City side continued to struggle after squandering a 3-0 lead at home to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord in the Champions League, conceding three goals in the final 15 minutes.
Despite the draw halting a run of five consecutive defeats across all competitions – a first for manager Pep Guardiola – the late capitulation highlighted City's ongoing issues.
Arne Slot's Premier League frontrunners are already eight points ahead of closest rivals City, and midfielder Gundogan believes an 11-point gap would be insurmountable should they lose at Anfield.
When asked if Sunday's match is a must-win for City, Gundogan responded: "To stay in the title race, probably yes, because 11 points would be a huge gap. It's still early in the season.
Related articles
"There are still a lot of games to play and a lot of things can happen, not just on our side but at every other team. But obviously we have to look at ourselves and try to do the things we can do better, as quickly as possible.
"We take it, stay humble, head down and try to put in the work in the next few days and prepare as well as possible for a tough game.
"Anfield is always tough, no matter the situation. We've struggled in recent years going there and we know Liverpool are a great team full of confidence right now.
"It's going to be as tough as it is possible to be. But that sums up the situation right now. It seems we have to go through this season the toughest way possible."
City's aura of invincibility has been significantly diminished in recent weeks, with their players lacking confidence as they approach their most crucial game of the season against the title favourites.
Last season, Guardiola's team made history by becoming the first side in English football to secure four consecutive league titles, but their reign appears to be drawing to an unceremonious close.
Gundogan, 34, who rejoined City this summer after a year at Barcelona, stated: "Obviously we've done this ourselves a little bit, but hopefully we can get out of it as quickly as possible, especially in such a big game.
"It would give ourselves a boost to perform well and then obviously to get something out of the game. That is how we will approach the game."
Despite the shocking 4-0 home defeat to Tottenham, Gundogan believes that the team are still able to perform at a high level. He said: "But the result didn't show this at all, in the end.
"Tottenham played well and deserved to win, but we have to use these moments, to lift ourselves up and to get up as quickly as possible.
"But again, football is football and it sometimes creates incredible moments and difficult moments that you have to face. You only get through it when you face it, when you accept it, when you get challenged and you try to do.
"You only get through it when you face it, when you accept it, when you get challenged and you try to do your best to get out of this situation as quickly as possible."
