The form of Newcastle United and their top-four rivals is now a 'problem' for Manchester City following their defeat to Tottenham. That is the view of Micah Richards, with a fourth Premier League loss of the season leaving Pep Guardiola's side five points adrift of league leaders Arsenal.
Harry Kane scored the only goal of the game in the televised encounter on Sunday afternoon to continue the reigning Premier League champions' dismal record at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Arsenal had suffered a shock loss at Everton the day before, but the five-point cushion remains with Mikel Arteta's team also holding a game in hand.
Richards is confident his former side have already proven they can put a run together to lift their fifth Premier League title in six seasons. However, the ex-defender admits it is 'not clicking' at the Etihard right now and the form of rivals such as Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham is a growing concern.
READ MORE: Alan Shearer's response to Jurgen Klopp 'moan' as he slams Liverpool ahead of Newcastle clash
He told Sky Sports: "We have to admit there's something not really right, Cancelo is allowed to go, De Bruyne is not starting. He seems to be playing players on form and fitness, and we had a World Cup in the middle of this season.
"At this moment in time, it's just not clicking. If you ask me can they change that, of course they can because they've done it before. The problem is now, other teams are doing well.
"Newcastle are doing well, Spurs are picking up points, Man United are picking up points as well. It might not just become a two-horse race, Man United might be looking and thinking okay, Man City and Arsenal have got to play each other twice.
Fellow pundit and former Newcastle boss Graeme Souness added: "When you've got that quality, you're not concerned about anybody else, just about what you're doing. They could easily go on a run.
"Whether that's because we've been in football and you become quite pragmatic, we know the quality of the players they have. We know what they've done in the last five or six seasons, of course they can put a run together."
READ NEXT
Allan Saint-Maximin responds to AC Milan bid and Newcastle United situation he wouldn't accept
Why Lucas Paqueta move to Newcastle United never materialised despite 'come and get me' plea
Newcastle United handed £63million boost for weekend clash against AFC Bournemouth
Newcastle have a 'phenomenal' new training ground feature as old building is 'thrown away'
Alan Shearer shrugs off 'concerning' Newcastle United lack of goals claim after West Ham draw
