Pep Guardiola feels Manchester City are 'lacking confidence' following a 2-1 defeat at Leicester City, their second successive Premier League defeat.
The setback at the King Power Stadium means the champions have slipped to third spot in the table, now seven points behind unbeaten leaders Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp's men clinically dispatched Newcastle at Anfield with a 4-0 win on Boxing Day to stretch their lead, while Tottenham's 5-0 win over Bournemouth at Wembley was enough to hoist them a point clear of Man City in second place.
The champions grabbed a 14th-minute lead when they took advantage of poor defending from Leicester, Sergio Aguero releasing Bernardo Silva to score.
Mentally we are lacking confidence in that situation.
Pep Guardiola
Marc Albrighton levelled within five minutes however and, while City eventually laid siege to the Foxes goal in the second half it was Ricardo Pereira that blasted the winner from 18-yards with just nine minutes remaining.
Fabian Delph was sent off late on as City were left to count the cost of a second defeat in five days – both games in which the scored first.
"It was a similar performance to the Crystal Palace game, we started well but conceded a goal the first time they arrived in our box. Mentally we are lacking confidence in that situation," said Guardiola afterwards.
"We have to accept it, we have to realise that we have to work harder and try to get immediately one good result and get our confidence back."
Man City are 1/3 to end 2018 with a win over Southampton at St Mary's on Sunday. Saints are 15/2 to win the game, with the draw priced at 4/1.
View all Soccer betting
Pep Guardiola feels Manchester City are 'lacking confidence' following a 2-1 defeat at Leicester City, their second successive Premier League defeat.
The setback at the King Power Stadium means the champions have slipped to third spot in the table, now seven points behind unbeaten leaders Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp's men clinically dispatched Newcastle at Anfield with a 4-0 win on Boxing Day to stretch their lead, while Tottenham's 5-0 win over Bournemouth at Wembley was enough to hoist them a point clear of Man City in second place.
The champions grabbed a 14th-minute lead when they took advantage of poor defending from Leicester, Sergio Aguero releasing Bernardo Silva to score.
Mentally we are lacking confidence in that situation.
Pep Guardiola
Marc Albrighton levelled within five minutes however and, while City eventually laid siege to the Foxes goal in the second half it was Ricardo Pereira that blasted the winner from 18-yards with just nine minutes remaining.
Fabian Delph was sent off late on as City were left to count the cost of a second defeat in five days – both games in which the scored first.
"It was a similar performance to the Crystal Palace game, we started well but conceded a goal the first time they arrived in our box. Mentally we are lacking confidence in that situation," said Guardiola afterwards.
"We have to accept it, we have to realise that we have to work harder and try to get immediately one good result and get our confidence back."
Man City are 1/3 to end 2018 with a win over Southampton at St Mary's on Sunday. Saints are 15/2 to win the game, with the draw priced at 4/1.
View all Soccer betting
Source: bet365.com