NO CAKEWALK FOR PEP THIS TIME ... TITLE RACE WILL BE A CRACKER

THE question was tonguein-cheek but, nevertheless, Jack Grealish treated it with the scorn it deserved.

“Is this a crisis for Manchester City?”

Third in the Premier League table, a couple of points from the top, and two from two in the Champions League, Jack’s laughter at the suggestion was appropriate.

But what does City’s start to the season – which includes back-to-back Premier League defeats for the first time in almost five years – mean for the competition?

Well, we are only eight games in, but it could well mean fans can look forward to one of the most thrilling, open title races in years.

Seriously, the 2023/24 battle could be a five-way fight.

City, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and Newcastle.

In the Grealish Press conference last week, the City man was also asked about the mindset at the Etihad at the start of the season.

He insisted there was the usual, high motivation but he also admitted there was, posttreble, a feeling of … what now?

And there have been signs in the opening eight Premier League games that their intensity is not at its maximum.

That seems a bit harsh, considering they won their first six Premier League matches but, even during that run, they were rarely at their vibrant, dynamic best. The loss at Wolves was a shock, the defeat at the Emirates was not.

The negative effect of Kevin De Bruyne’s long-term absence cannot be overstated.

When it was combined with Rodri’s three-match ban, it was negatively decisive.

Grealish (below, with Pep Guardiola) himself has not been fully fit and nor has John Stones.

And don’t forget, there was probably no player more important than Stones for large parts of last season.

Guardiola is not alone but his repeated complaints about the fixture schedule – and elite football’s calendar, in general – perhaps portray a worry that his squad this season is not quite robust enough to slug it out on all fronts.

Of course, City are still hot favourites to win another Premier League title.

And after eight games last season, they had one more point than they have got this season.

Arsenal’s winner was thanks to a lucky deflection and, on the

‘‘ Guardiola’s complaints perhaps portray a worry his squad this season is not quite robust enough

balance of play, they deserved to take something away from Molineux.

So, Jack is right. To even jokingly suggest there is a crisis at City – or even a mini-crisis – deserves disdain.

But Liverpool look better than they did last season, ditto Spurs, while Arsenal and Newcastle look equally good.

Yes, Guardiola’s men could still, at some stage, go on the sort of relentless charge that has been a staple characteristic of their five titles over the past six years.

They could still blow everyone away.

But on the evidence of their standards so far, that is unlikely – and that will be a good thing.

There are still 30 matchdays remaining but this is already shaping up to be one of the most open Premier League title races for a long time.