Gary Neville has suggested that one team could cause Manchester City problems when they face them this season.
City have quite a few banana skins left in their Premier League title run-in and it would be premature to crown them as the champions of England already.
Starting with Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday night, as Roberto De Zerbi always has a plan in place that could stump the very best managers.
While a trip to the Country Ground to face Nottingham Forest might not seem like a challenge for Pep Guardiola’s men, the game is on Sunday.
As a result, Manchester City will only have two days to rest and recover before travelling to Nottingham, which is far from ideal.
The schedule will be similar to that of when they faced Chelsea on Saturday after playing against Real Madrid on Wednesday and in that respect, the medical staff will perhaps be aware of how to treat the players.
Neville suggests one team could cause City problems in title run-in
After those two games away games at the Amex Arena and the Country Ground, the treble-winners will have a chance of playing at the Etihad Stadium.
Having lost 2-1 to Wolves at the Molineaux Stadium earlier this season, the Sky Blues will have a chance to exact revenge against them at home.
However, Gary O’Neil’s side can be difficult to play against, with the likes of Matheus Cunha, Joao Gomes and Hwang Hee-chan all being threats.
Considering the game will be at the Etihad Stadium, however, City will be overwhelming favourites to get the all-important three points.
Up next will be yet another away game for the Premier League champions at Craven Cottage.
Fulham have surprised several teams at their stadium this season, demolishing both Tottenham and Brighton 3-0 and beating Manchester United 3-2.
Up next will be a contest against Tottenham Hotspur against Manchester City, which Gary Neville has hinted could be a difficult game for the visitors in North London.
“There’s a standout game there, and it’s Manchester City going to Tottenham in the last week. Arsenal and Liverpool have got to be thinking, get to that game, get to that game where they are in front, get to that game. Put the pressure on City to have to win the last two games, one of them being Tottenham away”, he said on Sky Sports.
“And that’s the job of Liverpool and Arsenal. They gave up the sort of if you like being in control last weekend. They’ve got to sort of try to get to that game now, in their minds. Obviously, there are games to go before that, but that’s I think the pressure they have got to try to apply.”
Interestingly, Jurgen Klopp claimed that he expects Manchester City to defeat Tottenham and does not seem to expect it to be as much of a challenge as Gary Neville does.
Manchester City have a blueprint on how to beat Spurs
Gary Neville certainly has a point as Tottenham can cause an upset against Manchester City, which would be perfect for both Arsenal and Liverpool.
But when City faced Spurs in the FA Cup and beat them 1-0 this season, they perhaps came up with a blueprint on how to play against them away from home.
On the night, the Sky Blues prioritised control above anything else and did not let an open game burst into life, which would benefit a team as attacking as the Lilywhites.
Instead, City dictated the game at their own pace, created enough chances to score and eventually, got the victory.
If Manchester City employ a similar approach when they face Tottenham in May, the banana skin Gary Neville expects it to be for Pep Guardiola’s men might just be a routine win.