Man City boss: Man City facing challenge to retain title after 2-1 defeat at Liverpool

Manuel Pellegrini admits concern over entire Manchester City side after Liverpool loss

Manuel Pellegrini admitted Manchester City have “a lot of problems” after defeat at Liverpool dented their title defence.

Champions City wasted the chance to narrow the gap on Premier League leaders Chelsea, Philippe Coutinho’s stunning strike 15 minutes from time earning Liverpool the win.

Pellegrini’s side remain five points adrift of Chelsea, who now have a game in hand, with the City boss admitting the title slipped further away with this costly defeat.

“There were a lot of problems,” said Pellegrini. “They were two goals from Liverpool - very good goals in the top corner.

“I’m concerned about the whole team. We were playing very well in the last two Premier League games, against Stoke and Newcastle.

“This was not our team, we cannot lose so many balls with the technical players we have. In the first half we lost too many balls, especially in the first 15 minutes.

“I’m concerned that we are losing the ball too much - pressure is a factor. There is much we must analyse to improve.”

City skipper Vincent Kompany’s recent poor form continued as he lost the ball in the move that led to Liverpool’s opener, a thunderbolt from Jordan Henderson.

But Pellegrini refused to criticise defender Kompany and said: “It’s more important to analyse than the performance of one player. It is more important to think as a team.

“We will never give up on the title. We must try to improve our play first and after that try to win our next game.

“You never know in football what will happen. It’s more difficult when you have fewer games and you continue with the same points. But I don’t think the team can think about that. The team must think about how we can win the next game.

“We will see in the reaction in the next game [on Wednesday at home to bottom club Leicester]. The only way to see is the the way play again on Wednesday. Every point we drop makes it more difficult.”

Henderson’s opener was cancelled out by Edin Dzeko, but Coutinho’s majestic strike saw Liverpool win and move up to fifth in the race for a top-four spot.