Bernardo: ‘We can’t afford more mistakes’

BERNARDO Silva admits there is no more room for error if City are to retain their Premier League crown after losing their third league game in four.

Pep Guardiola’s side slipped to third in the table with their 2-1 defeat at Leicester, seven points adrift of Liverpool and a point shy of Tottenham.

Jurgen Klopp’s side put four past Newcastle and Spurs scored five against Bournemouth but City, for the second consecutive outing, were unrecognisable.

Bernardo, who fired the Blues into a 14th-minute lead, is wary of the distance Liverpool have ahead in front of the Premier League’s chasing pack.

“We started quite well but we weren’t able to play as usual and in the end they scored an amazing goal,” he said after the Leicester loss.

“We are not happy but we try to overcome the situation.

“Seven points to Liverpool is starting to be a lot, we are not playing as well as we want at this part of the season. We have to find an explanation.”

City face Southampton and host Liverpool in their next two fixtures, and Bernardo admits that even a victory over the Anfield outfit will not be enough to overturn their festive woes.

“We need to start winning games but we can’t rely on ourselves,” he added. “Even if we beat Liverpool now it won’t be easy.

“We have lost two games that we shouldn’t do if we are in a race for the title. There are a lot of games left and it’s mathematically possible but we have to be almost perfect from now.”