Man City's approach to Liverpool questions shows Premier League change

When trying to engage Manchester City players on their stuttering Premier League form this week, it's been noticeable they have diverted the topic away from matters back home and towards Saudi Arabia.

In their luxury hotel on the banks of the Red Sea, City are focused on the Club World Cup and are now busy preparing for a final against the cream of South America on Friday, with Fluminese standing in the way of a fifth gong for this side in 2023.

But their grip on one of those titles is already being ever so slightly loosened. Pep Guardiola's side have won just one of their last six Premier League matches and their 11-day gap between games in that competition is giving rivals another chance to land a body blow or two.

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This spell around Christmas and New Year is often the heart of a Premier League season, but City's mid-season dash to the Middle East has taken the heat off, metaphorically at least given the sweltering temperatures here in Jeddah. The issue is that psychologically the table could look daunting for the serial champions when they step out at Goodison Park on December 27.

If Liverpool beat Arsenal and Burnley they will be 10 points clear. A good Christmas for Tottenham and Newcastle could even condemn City to sixth place by the time they face the Toffees. If 2023 could yield an unprecedented haul of silverware, then sitting sixth when the turkey is being tucked into sandwiches is also unprecedented for this side.

They will have the chance to make up ground and those games against Everton and then Sheffield United on December 30 already feel key to altering the