Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva believes Manchester United face an uphill task of competing for the Premier League title this season after their recent 3-1 derby defeat at the Etihad Stadium. The Red Devils have made a rather average start to the current campaign and the recent loss to their cross-town rivals sees them already 12 points off the summit.

Speaking after the derby triumph, Silva suggested that United have a tough task of competing for the Premier League crown this term after witnessing their deficit to the top increase, he added: “It won’t be easy. Not only Man City – [they are] 10 points from Liverpool, a lot of points from the other ones as well. They need to be almost perfect and wait for the other ones to lose a lot of points. I think it won’t be easy.”

Meanwhile, the Portuguese footballer added that the Citizens face a tougher ask of retaining the Premier League crown this term with Liverpool presently on their shoulders with just a two-point separating them, he further told: “We know it won’t be easy this season. Liverpool are doing a fantastic Premier League as well. We want to try to and have a bigger gap during the months of December and January, where you have a lot of games. We will work very hard for that and try to improve on this.”

Manchester City have dropped points on just two occasions in the current Premier League season and they are presently one of three teams including Chelsea and Liverpool, who remain unbeaten. Meanwhile, the Citizens are also holding a strong position in their Champions League group with nine points on the board despite suffering a shock defeat to Lyon during the opening matchday.

The Citizens are pretty much through to the knockout phase of the competition with a sizeable goal difference over third-placed Hoffenheim and they can cement the top position with just one point from the forthcoming encounter against Lyon.