Can Pep Guardiola Turn Around Manchester City Amid The Worst Losing Run Of His Coaching Career?

Pep Guardiola is widely expected to sign a new contract at Manchester City, giving him a chance to extend his unprecedented dominance of English Premier League.

His first priority, however, is to arrest worst losing streak of his managerial career.

Four straight losses in all competitions see four-time defending champion City trail leer Liverpool by five points in England's top flight.

City is out of English League Cup and has been humbled in Champions League by a 4-1 loss to Sporting Lisbon in one of Ruben Amorim's final acts before taking over Manchester United .

Guardiola's rule appears to be under threat.

But we've been here before.

City's success under Guardiola — winning six of last seven leagues and becoming first English team to claim four in a row — has been characterized by its ability to go on remarkable winning runs that have eventually killed challenge of rivals.

Wher Guardiola's current team — with key players aging and or injured — has ability to go again, is unclear. And anything or than victory against Tottenham on Saturday would raise more questions about City's title credentials.

Backed by ruling family of Abu Dhabi, City has been able to spend billions of dollars signing world's best players. But Guardiola's squ has been stretched by injuries to Ballon d'Or winner Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne.

In De Bruyne and Kyle Walker, 33 and 34 respectively, re are doubts about ir ability to maintain levels y have in past. Walker, once so dominant at right back, has started only six games this season. City, meanwhile, has looked vulnerable in defense, keeping just five clean sheets in 18 games.

De Bruyne's injuries have been mounting. After being sidelined for much of last season, he's me only five starts this term.

Phil Foden has also struggled replicate form that saw him named footballer of year last season, with three goals in 14 games.

Guardiola famously questioned his players' title credentials midway through treble-winning year of 2023-24, describing City as a “happy flowers” team. It challenged m to raise ir game in face of a challenge from Arsenal, which led standings for much of that campaign.

It worked, with City going on to win Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.

With anor league title secured last term, it is a constant challenge for dominant teams to find hunger to reach new heights, even if Guardiola's passion is as evident as ever.

New Liverpool coach Arne Slot has taken fight to Guardiola right from start.

Liverpool les way in Premier League and Champions League, with Slot winning 15 of his first 17 games since succeeding Jurgen Klopp in offseason.

Arsenal under Guardiola's former assistant Mikel Arteta was runner-up to City in last two years. Though it has faltered this season, it is just four points behind City in fourth.

Chelsea is third, ahe of Arsenal on goal difference, and under anor of Guardiola's former assistants, Enzo Maresca. Chelsea looks like it could push towards top of standings.

Just four points separate third and 13th, and early weeks of campaign suggest a bro spre of quality across league, perhaps accounting for points being dropped by likes of City and Arsenal.

This is not first time City has run into trouble in a campaign's early stages.

Losing to Aston Villa 1-0 last December marked a run of four games without a win in league. It turned out to be last time Guardiola's team lost in league all season.

In February last year, City lost to Tottenham 1-0 and was five points rift of leer Arsenal. It was unbeaten in its next 16 league games and also went on win treble.

A five-point gap to Liverpool in November looks far less daunting by comparison.