Former England striker Alan Shearer has delivered a stark warning to Manchester City, suggesting the team may never recapture the dominant form that saw them win four consecutive Premier League titles.
A Damaging Defeat at St James' Park
The warning comes after Pep Guardiola's side suffered a bruising 2-1 defeat away to Newcastle United on Saturday evening. The Magpies' victory, secured by a brace from Harvey Barnes, handed a significant blow to City's title ambitions.
This result means Arsenal now have the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the table to six points if they win their north London derby on Sunday. The defeat at St James' Park has intensified scrutiny on a City side that appears more vulnerable than in previous seasons.
Shearer's Stark Assessment
Analysing the match for Premier League Productions, Shearer did not hold back in his criticism. "They are certainly not as good as they were, and we might never see them as good as what they were when they were on that unbelievable run," the Premier League's all-time top scorer stated.
Shearer pointed to the incredibly high standards City set during their period of supremacy, noting their brilliance in winning trophies and scoring goals. He expressed doubt that the team could ever reach those heights again, highlighting specific concerns that have emerged this season.
Defensive Vulnerabilities Exposed
While acknowledging City's continued attacking threat, particularly with Erling Haaland leading the line, Shearer identified the defence as a major area of concern. "Defensively they certainly aren't as sharp as they used to be," he remarked.
This assessment came despite City having the third-best defensive record in the league, having conceded only 10 goals in their opening 12 games. Shearer argued that the statistics masked deeper problems, pointing to Newcastle's performance as evidence.
"If Newcastle had their shooting boots on, they should have scored six or seven – they missed four absolute sitters," Shearer observed. "The way they carved City open would be a bigger concern for me."
The Rodri Factor
Another critical issue raised by Shearer was City's dependence on midfielder Rodri. The pundit suggested that the team has struggled to find an adequate replacement for the Spanish international, whose absence has been keenly felt.
"They are certainly not the same team without the brilliant Rodri and the protection he gives them," Shearer explained. "I'm not sure they've replaced him as yet. Whether they can find someone as good, probably not."
This dependency on key players and apparent defensive fragility has led to questions about whether City can mount a serious challenge for the title this season, despite their history of strong second-half campaigns under Guardiola.
While it would be premature to write off a team of City's quality, Shearer's comments reflect growing concerns that the era of their absolute dominance in English football may be coming to an end.
