Liverpool take on Manchester City at Anfield in a huge top of the table clash next weekend
Manchester City defender Kyle Walker has warned they are determined to turn things around when they face Liverpool in the Premier League next weekend.
The current champions suffered their fifth consecutive defeat across all competitions, and third in the league, when they were battered 4-0 by Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad on Saturday evening. James Maddison scored twice in the first half before Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson added a further two after the break.
Liverpool have a golden opportunity to move eight points clear of their rivals with a victory over Southampton on Sunday afternoon. Arne Slot's side have suffered just one defeat all season across all competitions as things stand.
Regardless of Liverpool's result against the Saints this weekend, the visit of Manchester City in seven days time is huge in terms of the title race. Walker insists City are hopeful of turning things around and has challenged his teammates to prove themselves between now and next Sunday's clash to prevent a 'walkover'.
but focus must first be on their Champions League clash with Slot's former club, Feyenoord.
"It [a trip to Liverpool] is a great game to turn it around, to take three points off a team that's sat above you," Walker told Sky Sports after City's defeat to Spurs. "But we can't go out and do a performance like that, because we're going to get walked over, so that's down to each and every one of us at the club, from now until next Sunday.
"We've a game midweek in the Champions League [against Feyenoord] to prepare for this massive game on Sunday and make sure we can keep within touching distance of Liverpool."
Injuries have contributed to City's significant dip in form, with Rodri currently sidelined with an ACL injury, but dwindling confidence played a huge part in their sub-par display on Saturday.
"We've lost confidence as a team because we haven't won in a while," Walker continued. "What we've won in the past counts for nothing, and what it's about is winning the Premier League now, and we're making it harder for ourselves because we've got teams around us and one team that's above us that's doing really well.
"We'll keep fighting to turn this around, and hopefully the mojo comes back and you see the normal City that you have done in the last eight seasons."