Will Manchester City regret not buying a striker?

It wasn't that long ago that many were doubting whether Manchester City would mount a fitting defence of their Premier League title.

Pep Guardiola's side walked to the league crown a year ago, virtually wrapping it up months ahead of schedule before eventually triumphing 12 points ahead of their nearest challengers.

But a slower than planned start to this campaign, allied with lightning fast beginnings from rivals around them, had whispers beginning to grow that a retention of the trophy would be a step too far.

After just five games City had dropped points twice - at Tottenham and at home to Southampton - with those around them seemingly already off and away in top gear.

But big results against Chelsea, a win at Stamford Bridge, and a draw against Liverpool on Sunday in the space of eight days suggest a change of tune may be needed from the team's critics.

Indeed it now appears it will need to be a special side that ends the season ahead of Guardiola's champions.

Both performances were excellent and worthy of all three points even though they were forced to settle for just one at Anfield in a game they could and should have won.

And it is that ability to kill games off that now offers hope to the chasing pack.

City tried to sign England captain Harry Kane from Tottenham in the summer but with Daniel Levy unmoved, as is his wont, were forced to admit defeat.

And Gary Neville, who watched Sunday's game unfold for Sky Sports, feels it could prove decisive.

"When City equalised a second time, Pep knew it was a big moment. It was one of the most ferocious celebrations we've seen from him," he said after the match. "His team delivered. Chelsea could win the league, but this City team is special.

"There is just one thing that stands in their way. Everybody in the league knows it and everyone in Manchester City knows it. Every pundit knows it and everyone in the country knows it: have they got that ruthless, cutting edge in games?

"There's just a pattern emerging of them not scoring. I know they scored two, but really in the first half they should've been out of sight. Will that cost them come the end of the season?

"Will they fall short because they just haven't got that striker, who's going to get those 25-30 goals for them? We know they can all contribute but they do lack that focal point up front."

open image in gallery

City lost club legend Sergio Aguero in the summer and with attempts to prise Kane away coming up empty now sees them without a recognised out and out number nine in the squad.

Guardiola has leaned into a team without a striker before of course and did so to great effect a year ago.

But Neville believes that had they managed to sign Kane then a title race that looks set to be one of the most exciting in recent memory would already be as good as over.

"We've rightly praised City's recruitment over the past few years and Guardiola gets the best out of them, but to not get a centre forward over the last few years has been a surprise," he added.

"With Edin Dzeko and then Sergio Aguero leaving, it's not as if it's come as a shock. Gabriel Jesus hasn't quite been trusted by Pep and they didn't go all the way for Harry Kane.

"In the past, they've done the same in turning down the price for Alexis Sanchez - but then have a Plan B. You expect a club like City to have someone lined up as a temporary measure to play even for 12 months.

“I know Pep likes to play with a team of midfielders, but there is that doubt that exists only through them lacking a striker. If Manchester City had Harry Kane, I'm telling you now this league is done.

"It would be done. Forget the form that Kane is currently in. Against Liverpool with those City players, he'd have definitely taken one of those chances in the first half. He's gold, so he'd remove any doubt that I have about City."

There is of course a long way to go with plenty of twists and turns surely to come.

Whether City live to regret not having a striker to navigate through them remains to be seen.