Pundit Ian Wright says competing with Manchester City every season has 'affected' Liverpool this season.
Jurgen Klopp 's side have struggled to get up and running in the Premier League to leave them ninth with 10 points from a possible 21. They've won just two games so far, with four draws and a defeat.
City, on the other hand, are flying toward the top of the table. Just one point separates the defending champions and leaders Arsenal and they are the only unbeaten team in the league, having won six and drawn two.
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Wright, who scored 185 goals in 288 appearances for Arsenal during his playing days, believes the pressure of having to win every week in order to keep up with City may be taking its toll on Liverpool.
"What City have done and why at the moment I feel it’s kind of broken Liverpool’s back because they’ve had to hold onto them for so long,’ Wright told the Kelly and Wrighty show. "The pressure of having to win every week because you know City are going to win.
"Absolutely (it’s affected them) I think, and I’ve said it, if it wasn’t for Liverpool, we’d have been having processions for Man City and I stick by that. You look at them and I think it’s just got to them a bit in respects of the players.
"You’ve got players of a certain age over 30 and then you’ve got players under 22. You need that middle group of players to keep them going and keep the energy going."
Liverpool are back in Champions League action on Tuesday night with a huge clash at home to Scottish giants Rangers. They then face Arsenal at the Emirates before a massive meeting with City at Anfield the following weekend.
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