Monday 2 December 2019 11:33, UK
Former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has refused to rule his old team out of the Premier League title race despite falling 11 points behind leaders Liverpool.
City were held to a 2-2 draw at Newcastle in the early kick-off on Saturday, allowing Liverpool to extend their lead over Pep Guardiola's side with a win over Brighton later in the day.
Jurgen Klopp's team sit eight points ahead of second-placed Leicester and remain unbeaten domestically this season.
But Italy boss Mancini, who led City to a Premier League title and FA Cup during his time at the Etihad, says his former club cannot be discounted from the title race after watching them claw back a seven-point deficit to Liverpool last season.
"I think that Liverpool in the last two years are a strong team," he told Sky Sports News. "But I remember last year in November and December Manchester City were seven points behind Liverpool.
"The Premier League is a very difficult championship. There is too long [to go]."
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