WE’RE KYLE-LY LIKELY TO WEAR OUT RIVALS

KYLE WALKER claims Manchester City “grind teams down” with their relentless possession.

Walker says it is hard for opponents to withstand Pep Guardiola’s slick side because defending against them is so exhausting.

“We grind teams down and they eventually get tired because we have so much possession,” the England defender said.

“To be able to concentrate for 90-plus minutes per game is difficult — I can say that as a defender.

“One lapse of concentration against the players we’ve got and we will hurt you.”

Walker says City are unconcerned about being off the pace in the opening stages of the title race – two points behind rivals Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea – after being held to a draw by newly-promoted Wolves last weekend.

They made an identical start last season, picking up seven points from their first three games, before winning their next 12 matches to leave their pursuers trailing.

“It’s early doors,” said Walker (left). “We haven’t lost yet and we move on to the next game.”

City overrun opponents in midfield because Guardiola (below) likes fullbacks Walker and Benjamin Mendy to push forward. However Walker, 28, says he is hanging back more to cover Mendy, who already has five assists this season from his forward raids.

“My role is a little bit different — I’m tucking in a little bit more and trying to control people,” he said.

“I still have the licence to go forward but now I’m getting older it’s probably more about picking and choosing my runs rather than going up and down the wings as I did at Tottenham.

“I’m still dusting off the cobwebs too. Playing for England in a centre-back role is completely different to playing in a right-back role — you use more energy as a right-back, getting up and down.

“So I’m still getting the engine warm and hopefully will be good in the next couple of weeks.”

City, runaway Premier League winners, will be in Pot 1 with the other top-seeded teams in today’s Champions League draw.