Daniel Sturridge outlines what Manchester City must address in the January transfer window to boost their chances of winning the Premier League title, following an 11-point gap behind Liverpool.

Daniel Sturridge believes Manchester City can only remain contenders for the Premier League title this season if Pep Guardiola is allowed to strengthen his squad in January. After a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool left City 11 points behind their rivals after 13 games, Sturridge emphasized the need for reinforcements, particularly in midfield.

City’s dominance in recent seasons, winning four consecutive titles, has been undermined by injuries and inconsistent performances. The loss of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri to an ACL injury in September, compounded by Mateo Kovacic’s subsequent injury, has left Guardiola without a specialist defensive midfielder. Sturridge argued that without addressing this gap, City cannot realistically challenge Liverpool for the title.

Speaking on Sky Sports after the Anfield defeat, Sturridge, a former City and Liverpool player, said:

“They need a defensive-minded midfielder. When you look at their options—Nunes, Kovacic, Gundogan—most of them are more attacking or control players. Without a defensive midfielder, they won’t be in the title race, as you can see from the chances they’ve been conceding against teams that wouldn’t normally threaten them.”

While he doubted City’s title chances without signings, Sturridge still expects them to secure a top-four finish, citing the quality of players like Erling Haaland, who he predicts will eventually rediscover form.

Jamie Carragher, another pundit, echoed Sturridge’s sentiments but was more pessimistic, suggesting City may already be out of the title race. He argued that City could struggle even to finish above Arsenal and Chelsea without significant reinforcements, noting the energy and momentum of their younger squads. Carragher added,

“No matter how good a manager you are, you can’t fix this without new players. If Pep can buy in January, maybe things will change. Otherwise, they might have to wait until next season to fully recover.”

Both analysts agreed that Guardiola’s ability to sign a defensive midfielder in January could be pivotal for City’s hopes t

his season.