“The biggest joke” – Jurgen Klopp makes Manchester City Premier League title race decision

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has commented on Manchester City’s Premier League title hopes, after the Blues suffered a fresh setback at Villa Park.

Pep Guardiola’s side dramatically collapsed to their third defeat of the campaign on Wednesday evening, losing 1-0 to Aston Villa, to fall to fourth in the Premier League table and drop points for a sixth time in nine matches.

The loss, courtesy of Leon Bailey’s deflected second-half strike, has left Manchester City six points behind current league leaders Arsenal, and five points off of second placed Liverpool in the table.

Manchester City are bidding to become the first team to ever win four consecutive Premier League titles, but will likely need a dramatic turn of fortunate after a series of underwhelming recent performances.

The Sky Blues, who completed the treble last season, are winless since early November in the Premier League and have conceded 12 goals across their previous seven games in all competitions.

Guardiola has been without Kevin De Bruyne since the start of the season, meanwhile Rodri and Jack Grealish were suspended for Wednesday’s defeat at Villa Park.

Summer signing Jeremy Doku missed the midweek loss due to injury, although John Stones made just his sixth start of the season in the Midlands.

Despite the uncharacteristically poor run of form, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes Manchester City can still challenge for the title, with the Sky Blues having previously overturned points deficits to be crowned champions.

“If somebody would write Manchester City off [in the Premier League title race], that would be the biggest joke in the history of football,” said Klopp.

Liverpool moved five points clear of Manchester City with a 2-0 win over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, with the Merseyside club having recently drawn 1-1 with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s late effort.

The Reds, who won the title in 2020, are just one point behind Arsenal and face the Gunners on Saturday 23rd December.