Liverpool sent Premier League title warning as Man City tipped to win by huge margin

Tony Cascarino has no doubts about the Reds' attack, but has major ones about the leaky defences and insists Pep Guardiola's side are a class above the rest this season - again.

It's been a thrilling race so far in the 2021/22 season which has seen regular changes at the top, with City, Liverpool and Chelsea setting up what is looking to be a fascinating second-half of the season.

Despite leading for most of the campaign so far, Chelsea's previously imperious form has dropped off, and 'steady-as-she-goes' City have done it again to top the table as we enter into the festive period.

Guardiola's team have a knack of coming out of nowhere to set the pace.

With Chelsea looking so impressive under Thomas Tuchel and Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool apparently reverting to the old tactic of outscoring their opponents, City have done what they've always done - keep the points ticking.

And they're now back where they have been for the majority of Guardiola's spell in charge at the Etihad - at the summit.

As it stands, City hold just a one point lead over the second-place Reds and - following Chelsea's dramatic loss of form - it's clear they are again the two best teams in the country.

But Cascarino insists they are not on the same level, and it's just a matter of time before the defending champions pull away.

Speaking on the Weekend Sports Breakfast, the talkSPORT pundit said: "I want my former club Chelsea to have some sort of involvement, and I want the team I supported as boy, Liverpool, to hang on to Man City's coat tails - but I think that's about as good as it's going to get.

"If Liverpool finish above City, I think it would be their biggest achievement in recent history, because City are an exceptional team.

"Seven straight wins. They've won nine of the last ten and the only game they lost was the one they didn't need anything from, RB Leipzig away in the Champions League.

"If you've got Phil Foden on form, Bernardo Silva on form, Kevin De Bruyne coming back from injury and he starts doing what he can do - and we all know what that is - it's pretty devastating.

"My personal feeling, and I might be way out here, but I think Man City will win it by ten points.

"I think it'll be a major achievement if Liverpool can even keep pace with them, because I just can't see Man City going into games and losing."

Cascarino added his concerns about Liverpool, saying their problems across the back-line will cost them in their pursuit of a second Premier League crown in three seasons.

And he has particular concerns about goalkeeper Alisson, who has not looked his usual solid self at times this term.

"Liverpool's front-three have been extraordinary," said the former striker and lifelong Reds fan.

"I know Roberto Firmino has not played, but Diogo Jota has done unbelievably to come in and be the player he has for Liverpool.

"Mo Salah is not even a conversation, we know how brilliant he has been and Sadio Mane has chipped in. Not so much of late, but he's chipped in some really good performance and game-changing moments.

"That front-three are going to have to do everything they've done in the first part of the season, and do it again and to an even higher level to even keep close to Man City.

"I don't doubt that area of the pitch, they'll still have a big impact, I'm just a little bit more concerned about the [defence].

"The 3-2 I saw against West Ham, the 3-3 against Brentford - I think that might happen one or twice again in the remainder of the season.

"I'm a little bit concerned about Alisson, too. I think he's been hot and cold. When he's good he's a brilliant goalkeeper, when he keeps the basics of his games and simplifies it.

"But when he overplays at times I think he's liable to a few mistakes, and I've seen a number of mistakes this year compared to previous seasons.

"Not that I wouldn't say he's a great goalkeeper, because he is, I just feel he's more prone to errors than Ederson is at Man City.

"Liverpool are a brilliant team, Trent Alexander-Arnold is an extraordinary player, his goal in midweek was ridiculous and his assists record is incredible.

"They're a fantastic team, Jurgen Klopp has assembled an amazing outfit, but I still think they're a tad short of what Man City have got.

"I say a tad, but I still think it'll be a ten-point gap."