Troy Deeney believes Manchester City's daunting clash against Liverpool is the “perfect” opportunity to turn things around, despite their atrocious form.
City looked set to end a five-match losing streak when they led Feyenoord 3-0 with 15 minutes remaining in their Champions League tie on Tuesday.
But instead of celebrating the three points, the Etihad Stadium stayed in stunned silence at full time after Feyenoord scored three goals to save a point.
Was the first time Guardiola had failed to win a game when he led by three goals in his coaching career loaded with trophies and 942 games.
Not only that, but it extended City's winless streak to six games in all competitions.
The games don't get any easier for City on their journey to the league leaders. Liverpoolwho are at the top after dominating Real Madrid in the Champions League
Even though City look their weakest in the Guardiola era and Liverpool are on a 15-match unbeaten run, Deeney is convinced a shock result is in store when the two sides meet on Sunday.
“I think City will be better organised,” Deeney told talkSPORT.com.
“I think this is the perfect game for them. I know it's strange to say that.
“But Liverpool just beat Real Madrid, so their fans are expectant. But this is the first time that Manchester City is not a favorite in a match for the bookmakers. So everyone is ruling them out.
“I think they will be more together, more solid. I can see them winning, 2-1.”
Deeney added: “People were telling me today that Arsenal are more favorites to win the league than Man City, and Man City are second. I don't know what's going on.
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“And they still have the best striker in the world, right? I'm confused.”
How Deeney would have loved to face this version of City as a player.
During the 36-year-old's time at Watford, the Hornets lost all 11 of their games against Guardiola's side, with Deeney recording a goal and two assists.
Watford found a way past City's then-stale defense only six times.
On the other hand, City scored a staggering 50 goals against Watford, which equates to an average of 4.5 goals per game.
In Deeney's words, Watford were “fucked up like a king” when they faced City.
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But if Watford had faced City now, their team meetings would be filled with optimism rather than fear.
“When you go to Saturday games, you have a team meeting on Friday and you come out saying, 'Oh my God, how are we going to stop this,'” Deeney said.
“Whereas now, the pictures from the last few weeks would say, ‘OK, there are holes there, there are weaknesses, they are missing opportunities.’ You just don't want to be the team that they play well against.
“The defenders would think, 'Yeah, we have a chance,' and the forwards would think, 'If we can cross or hit them on the counterattack, we'll have a chance to score.'”
One area of the pitch that Liverpool will feel confident exposing is City's right flank.
Kyle Walkerwho were named PFA Premier League Team of the Year last season, are looking especially shaky.
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The City right-back has posed many problems for opposing managers over the years given his quick speed, which allowed him to move up and down the right side of the pitch.
But against Tottenham last Saturday, Walker was left for dead despite having several yards on Timo Werner when the German beat his marker and squared the ball for Brennan Johnson to seal a 4-0 win for Ange Postecoglou's side. .
The tests won't get any easier for Walker, who will face either Luis Diaz or Cody Gakpo on Sunday.
However, Deeney launched a passionate defense of Walker, calling the criticism directed at him “unfair”.
“Because now he has suddenly become old because he has been chased twice by (Antoine) Semenyo, who is not exactly slow, and Adama Traore, who is basically Usain Bolt. So it's not a fair criticism, I would say.
“I think there are a lot of people like (Manuel) Akanji, who get away with it in that sense. He hasn't really defended himself that well. Then Kyle is the one we dig up. But that's the role of being a great player , he understands both adulation and negativity.”
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Deeney is convinced Walker is “nowhere near finished” but the former Watford man believes the right-back could be in line for a big move sooner rather than later.
“I think maybe he, as a right back, could put it behind him this year,” Deeney said.
“He could go to the centre-back position, where he doesn't have to run as much and do so many repeated sprints.
“But he's still fast and he's still very, very good.”
Another intriguing subplot ahead of Sunday's blockbuster clash is the future of the Liverpool superstar. Mohamed Salahwhose contract expires at the end of the season.
Salah made the news when he spoke after the Reds' 3–2 win against Southampton and stated that he is “probably more out than in” given that he had not received any offers for a new contract.
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A 'very disappointed' Jamie Carragher described Salah's comments as 'selfish', generating debate among football fans.
Deeney disagreed with Carragher's verdict but feels Salah could easily put the saga behind him, at least momentarily, with a big game on Sunday.
“I can understand both sides of the argument,” Deeney said.
“Is it selfish? Not really. It's a business. It would be selfish if he stopped playing and said he had a back injury, but everyone knew he was fine. Then he got his contract and all of a sudden he's back.”
“He plays, he scores, he's still the key component of why they win games. Even at Southampton, when they were poor, he was the factor that got them over the line.”
The next five games for Manchester City and Liverpool
The next five games for Manchester City and Liverpool
City of Manchester: Liverpool (a), Nottingham Forest (a), Crystal Palace (a), Juventus (a), Manchester United (a)
Liverpool: Manchester City (v), Newcastle (v), Everton (v), Girona (v), Fulham (v)
