Football News: The reasons behind the slump of Top Teams in EPL 

Over the last four seasons, both teams have been consistently consistent. However, frequent inconveniences like ageing squad members, significant departures, and new arrivals, among other problems, have left the top two clubs last season bare. 

Here is a brief note on their issues so far into the season!

Liverpool

Core players are missing and reduced minutes.

Joel Matip played the fifth-most minutes last year, but his time has reduced this season along with that of Fabinho, Thiago, Jordan Henderson, and new arrival Darwin Nunez. Ibrahima Konate and Naby Keita haven't played at all. 

Meanwhile, Sadio Mane's departure to Bayern Munich has significantly affected results, and their in-house replacement, Diogo Jota, has not played yet. 

Their backline looks shaky, and Virgil van Dijk has not been in form yet. Even Liverpool's most-used players last season haven't received much game time.

Marginal Declines

In the 2021-22 season, Liverpool secured possession in the attacking third 7.6 times per game, and no other club went above 6.3. 

They also allowed decreased opponent passes per defensive action and conceded just 26 goals in 38 matches, joint-best with City.

Without the partnership between Mane and Jota, the best presser on the team, the front three cannot win balls as easily. Additional pressure is on Trent Alexander-Arnold to create plays in possession and defence.

Fewer goals

Liverpool currently has a single goal scorer - Mohammed Salah. Although he won the Golden Boot last season with 23 goals, Mane (16) and Jota (15) also contributed to the tally.

New arrival Luis Diaz is more suited for ball-carrying and repositioning it from the left wing. The duo dominated the field in the first two matches with Nunez out front. 

The path forward looks difficult due to the evident dip in their quality this season.  

Manchester City

Poor defence

Pep Guardiola's side has reduced into a squad of inconsistency despite the initiative shown by the league's leading goalscorer, Erling Haaland. They haven't lost a single match but have drawn two games. 

They were held to a 3-3 draw by Newcastle, and the Premier League champions conceded eight shots in the first half.

Newcastle scored 15 touches inside the City penalty area, the third-most conceded in the Guardiola era. The City couldn't control the match as their defence crumbled, letting Newcastle create chance after chance.

Newcastle pressed harder and won possession mostly at the attacking or midfield third. Their midfielders could crush City's midfielders and run past them once they got control.

Change in playing style

The signing of Erling Haaland introduced a change in City's style, loosening the team's grip on possession, and it signalled for a more and-down action. 

However, they had implemented the opposite in their first two matches, allowing them more control over the ball. They used Haaland to stretch the defence and open up space in the midfield besides pushing through defenders once the ball into the penalty area.

It worked against West Ham but was not effective against Bournemouth and had failed against Newcastle. The weak points in their strategy were also visible in their 1-1 draw against Aston Villa. 

Despite being ranked second in the Premier League table now, City has lost their mojo.