There is plenty of positive reaction to yesterday’s 2-1 win over Chelsea on the Sunday back pages.
We’ll hear how former United star Roy Keane believes the Blues will never give up on the title, plus discover the views of the Irish Times - but we kick off with The Sportsman, who have listed six reasons the champions can still successfully defend their crown…
Opinion
The Sportsman: Six reasons Liverpool should fear a City comeback.
Alex Keble writes: “Some people will tell you Manchester City are dead and buried already in the Premier League title race. What rubbish!
“Nine-point leads are nothing to shake a stick at, but these are not ordinary times. Anyone who thinks Liverpool cannot be overhauled clearly hasn’t been paying attention to the remorseless brilliance of City in recent times. There’s plenty of reason to believe in a comeback from Pep Guardiola and his side.
“Here are six ways in which City could still end the campaign with three in a row:
“Liverpool’s pursuit of the league title sags with the weight of expectation. Jurgen Klopp’s side might look relentless now, but that could easily change when the 30-year quest nears its end. Liverpool are playing under immense pressure, and should they falter – as they did last year, when a succession of draws allowed City to overhaul a seven-point gap – Guardiola’s team will surely be ruthless. City won’t collapse.
“They are far too good to fall further behind and, having won consecutive titles, have the experience and cool heads needed to slowly reel Liverpool in. Visions of recent near-misses, from John Stones’ clearance off the line last year to Steven Gerrard’s slip in 2014, will play on the minds of the league leaders. There is a long, long way to go.”
Find our The Sportsman’s other five reasons here.
READ: City win enthralling encounter
Daily Mail: ‘Hurt City responded like champs’ says Keane
“Roy Keane claimed Manchester City ‘responded like champions’ to beat Chelsea at the Etihad on Saturday night.
“The Blues went behind to N’Golo Kante’s first-half goal but hit back with first-half goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez.
“Sky Sports pundit Keane said: ‘Manchester City responded like champions today. They weren’t quite at their best, but they punished Chelsea for their mistakes, and they deserved to win. We saw the quality they have, even with their problems.
‘Ultimately, it’s what you do with the possession, and I think Chelsea didn’t quite do enough. Frank (Lampard) will be pleased, they didn’t park the bus and they had a go, but they were punished and that’s what the really good teams do.
‘Pep (Guardiola) would’ve wanted a reaction from the game a couple of weeks ago. They’ve got quality and vast experience and a brilliant coach. I still think he’s hurt by that game, there was always going to be a reaction and when they got the equaliser there was no doubt for me, they were going to go on and win.’
Reports
The Guardian: ‘Swashbuckling affair a delight to watch’
Paul Wilson writes: “There was a great deal of swash and buckle in this game. Encounters between top-four sides are often dull, cautious affairs but Chelsea and Manchester City at the moment could not be boring if they tried.
“True, there were enough defensive mistakes to drive both managers mad and remind everyone they were not necessarily watching the most refined level of football but in terms of entertainment the evening was a high-class hoot. Each side knew they were capable of hurting the other and took it in turn to launch precision strikes of increasing audacity so that long before the end both defences were left with the footballing equivalent of duelling scars.
“It was great to watch – exactly what one might expect with so much attacking quality on show – and the pick of an attractive bunch might just have been the man who missed City’s defeat by Liverpool, Riyad Mahrez. Quite possibly playing only because Bernardo Silva was suspended, Mahrez took on the Chelsea defence directly to put City in front and almost repeated the trick early in the second half.”
That’s all for today - stay tuned throughout Sunday for plenty more news and view plus Bristol v City match coverage and reaction
