For years, they’ve been dominant in what many consider the strongest league in the world. But this season, Liverpool is already 11 points ahead. In the big Sunday derby, Liverpool crushed Manchester City. Pep Guardiola, rarely the target of criticism since taking charge of the Citizens, is now under fire. Some of the criticism even includes claims that Kevin De Bruyne isn’t playing because of a fallout with the manager.Pep against Mourinho’s fate: It started the same way…Such stories will always circulate, but it’s never good for a coach when they reach television screens where everyone can hear them. And everyone did hear Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher. Former Liverpool defender said on Sky Sports that ‘something isn’t right between those two’ and former United defender vaguely offered that ‘something is definitely going on in the dressing room’.”People say I’ve got a problem with Kevin. Do you think I like to not play with Kevin? I don’t want Kevin to play? The guy who has the most talent in the final third. I don’t want it? I have a personal problem with him after nine years together? He’s delivered to me the biggest success to this club. I’m desperate to have his best. But he’s been five months injured and two months injured. He’s 33 years old. He needs time to find his best” replied Guadiola at the press conference.Pep on the Reds’ fans’ sack chants: ‘I didn’t expect that at Anfield’The Spainard insist that the only reason the Belgian midfielder is not playing so much are injuries.”I’d love to have Kevin in his prime, at 26 or 27. He would love it too. But he is not 26 or 27 any more. He had injuries in the past, important and long ones, and he is a guy who needs to be physically fit for his space and energy. It’s normal, it’s nature. He played a lot of games for 10 or 11 seasons. I know he is desperate to help us, he gives glimpses of brilliance that only he can have” said the Spaniard.Salah is not the only one: De Bruyne doesn’t have a clue eitherKevin De Bruyne’s current struggles to perform at his usual level are certainly one of the reasons City has fallen so far behind. But they’re not the only issue.“I desperately need five goals and five assists from Phil Foden. Five from Kevin, then goals and assists from Jérémy Doku, Jack Grealish, Savinho, or Gundogan. Just five each. Not 20, 30, or 40—just five goals and five assists from these players, and we’d be top of the table. So why don’t we have them? They haven’t been here. They’ve been injured. That’s my biggest problem,” concluded Guardiola.ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 14TuesdayIpswich – Crystal Palace 0-1 (0-0)/Mateta 59/Leicester – West Ham 3-1 (1-0)/Vardy 2, Khannous 61,Daka 90 – Fullkrug 90+3/Wednesday22:30: (2.20) Everton (3.50) Wolverhampton (3.50)22:30: (1.40) Man.City (4.70) Nott.Forest (8.00)22:30: (5.00) Newcastle (3.70) Liverpool (1.80)22:30: (8.50) Southampton (5.50) Chelsea (1.33)23:15: (1.50) Arsenal (4.50) Man.Utd. (7.25)23:15: (1.80) Aston Villa (3.70) Brentford (5.00)Thursday22:30: (2.45) Fulham (3.50) Brighton (3.00)23:15: (2.70) Bournemouth (3.90) Tottenham (2.50)***odds are subject to change***
