City's target for the season has come sharply into focus for Guardiola

ANOTHER bad week for City was accompanied by a rare disappointment for Liverpool.

- SIMON BAJKOWSKI

The runaway Premier League leaders would have to suffer the mother of all collapses to end without a trophy this season, but anyone giddy enough to start talking up a famous Quadruple has been well and truly silenced.

A much-changed team went out of the FA Cup to Plymouth last month as Arne Slot prioritised other competitions, only for the past days to see a Champions League exit at home to Paris Saint-Germain and defeat to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final. If Pep Guardiola didn't have problems with his own team to sort through, he would appreciate even more how special City have been in the past to win what they have.

Eddie Howe will never have to buy a drink in Newcastle again as he cements his reputation as a top coach, and while it may be jeered at, Liverpool will soon forget this disappointment if it leads to fans celebrating a first ever Premier League title with the team come May.