Problems mounting up for Pep's 'fragile' Blues

CITY'S OPPONENTS NO LONGER FEAR THEM

- JOE BRAY

"WE are a bit fragile right now, that is obvious," said Pep Guardiola with the understatement of the season.

His Manchester City side were pulled apart, dismantled and bullied by Tottenham to make it five defeats on the spin.

It ended their two-year unbeaten run at the Etihad Stadium and Guardiola admitted they could be out of the title race if Liverpool win their next two games including the showdown with City at Anfield next week.

The reasons for the losing slump are well-documented with some factors exaggerated and others ignored.

THE INJURIES

The endless injuries are the obvious place to start, with key men in vital positions missing in every game this season.

Guardiola even pointed to Oscar Bobb's absence since the Community Shield as a reason for City's press being less effective.

Rodri has effectively missed the full campaign, Kevin De Bruyne hasn't been able to start a game since September and players like Phil Foden, Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, John Stones and Jack Grealish have all suffered with fitness issues to hamper their rhythm.

Of his 21 players available, plus academy options, Guardiola has seen 15 miss games at various points of the season, giving him as many as 84 occasions where a player has been unavailable to start already this season.

It's impossible to look at the reasons for City's losing streak without pointing out the obvious - that City are missing so many of their most important players.

THE KNOCK-ON EFFECT