Crisis deepens with fractures clear to see

THEY say a picture can paint a thousand words and the images of Manchester City players arguing amongst themselves and Pep Guardiola struggling to contain his frustration on the Anfield touchline did just that.

- TYRONE MARSHALL

This is rapidly transitioning from a blip to a crisis.

Guardiola told reporters on Friday that it was up to them to write that his side were in crisis.

It's premature to come to that judgement just yet, especially when there were some more positive signs in the second half, but while the poor performances are concerning, it is the sense of a successful team starting to fracture that makes you wonder whether this is just a rough patch to be overcome - or something approaching the beginning of the end? Let's be honest; they've had worse days than this on this side of Merseyside, even when they were sweeping everyone before them.

It's a place they've long stopped enjoying visiting. But while the second 45 minutes and an excellent Stefan Ortega performance penalty error aside preserved a modicum of dignity, they looked a shadow of their former selves, especially in a rotten first half.