Monday’s briefing: Man City surge into title race after easing past Liverpool

Manchester City turned up the heat in the title race but rivals Liverpool slipped off the pace.

Thomas Tuchel’s England squad has been depleted by injuries before the players even meet up for the international break, and Rob Edwards’ return home to Wolves is imminent.

Guardiola: City are back in the title race

Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City’s 3-0 win over defending Premier League champions Liverpool shows his side are ready to compete for the title again this season.

Arne Slot’s side were swept aside by City at the Etihad via goals from Erling Haaland, Nico Gonzalez and the outstanding Jeremy Doku, and although Liverpool had a strong case that Virgil van Dijk’s disallowed header should have stood, there was no denying they were second best.

City moved up to second, four points behind Arsenal after their 2-2 draw at Sunderland on Saturday, with a fifth league win in six suggesting they are back in the mix after finishing 13 points behind Liverpool last term.

“I said to the players, ‘don’t do it because yesterday Arsenal didn’t win, do it because we believe in ourselves that we can play against the champions of England and show they we are ready to be there with him this season’,” Guardiola said.

“Today we proved it, we did it – especially in the first half.”

Keane says Liverpool are in ‘crisis’

Roy Keane believes Liverpool are out of the title race and in crisis after the defending champions lost in the Premier League for a fifth time after a 3-0 loss at Manchester City.

Those five defeats have come in their last six league matches and have left Arne Slot’s side in eighth, eight points behind leaders Arsenal.

Liverpool have lost four away games in succession for the first time in 13 years and conceded 17 goals in their 11 league matches.

“At this moment in time you can’t be considering Liverpool for the Premier League title,” former Manchester United captain Keane told Sky Sports.

“I think it is crisis time for Liverpool. Defensively they are all over the place. The full-backs are a huge problem, the centre-half (Ibrahima Konate) looks a nervous wreck.”

Injury withdrawals hit England

Marc Guehi looks set to be withdrawn from the England squad while Anthony Gordon and Nick Pope have been ruled out of the last two World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania.

Centre-back Guehi sustained bone bruising on a foot in the closing stages of Thursday’s 3-1 Conference League win against AZ Alkmaar and is set for a spell on the sidelines.

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner told Sky Sports News: “He can’t even walk at the moment. The last two days he is on crutches.

“I don’t know how this develops over the next couple of days but at the moment it doesn’t look good. It looks like he can’t play for England.”

Winger Gordon missed Newcastle’s 3-1 defeat at Brentford with a hip injury and goalkeeper Pope was substituted with concussion.

Edwards imminent at Wolves

Wolves are set to announce Rob Edwards as their new manager on a three-and-a-half year contract, the PA news agency understands.

The Premier League club, who sacked Vitor Pereira last Sunday, were given permission to speak with Edwards after a compensation fee between £3-4million was accepted by Middlesbrough.

It is understood a formal announcement is expected in the next 24-48 hours.

Boro initially turned down Wolves’ approach having only installed Edwards as their manager in June on a three-year deal following the dismissal of Michael Carrick.

What’s on today?

In League Two, resurgent Cheltenham face Notts County, who can climb up to third with victory at the EV Charger Points Stadium.

England need to win their final Group E encounter of the Under-17 World Cup against Egypt in Doha to guarantee their place in the knockout stages.