Former Premier League striker Darren Bent believes Man City’s defensive record will help them “edge out” Liverpool in the race for the title.
City had been firmly in control of the battle to win the Premier League until recent weeks.
Their draw against Southampton and loss versus Tottenham has given Liverpool hope.
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Jurgen Klopp’s side are in great form as they have not lost a game across all competitions this year.
Liverpool are six points behind Man City. They have a game in hand over the leaders and the rivals face off at the Etihad next month.
Man City have the best defensive record in the division as they have only conceded 17 goals. Liverpool meanwhile have conceded 20.
Bent believes City’s defensive solidarity will prove to be pivotal in the title race:
“They [Liverpool] can catch them but I don’t think they will,” Bent told talkSPORT.
“Manchester City, against Everton, got fortunate with the decision because it was handball, but they’ve won that game so you have to put that to bed.
“We’ve seen Manchester City do this, we’ve seen them get beat, and then go on incredible runs and that’s my only thing.
“I think Liverpool will continue to win games as well but Manchester City, defensively, are solid.
“They’ve conceded fewer goals than anybody but they can go on runs when they win ten or twelve games in a row.
“I think they need to do that, and they’ve been there and done that before. Them and Liverpool went toe to toe and had to keep winning games, and City did it, so.
“I think Liverpool will run them close, but I think City, in the Premier League, will just edge out Liverpool.”
Elsewhere, Klopp thinks they are currently miles off achieving a Quadruple and won’t be thinking about it any time soon:
“No team in the history of English football has won the quadruple, right? That is because it is incredibly difficult,” said Klopp.
“We’re still behind Manchester City (in the Premier League). We are not close to thinking about any crazy stuff like that.
“We are close to nothing at the moment. It is better people think we can do good things than we are useless but it is not important or helpful.
“We face a lot of good teams between now and the end of May. We just want to think about Norwich (in the FA Cup on Wednesday).”