Wilfried Bony admits Manchester City are in a “difficult moment” as they fight to keep hold of their Premier League crown. A disappointing 2-1 loss at Liverpool on Sunday left them five points behind leaders Chelsea, who now have a game in hand.

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Striker Bony says City have to win all 11 of their remaining games and hope the Blues slip up if they are to retain the championship.

“We believe [we can win every game left], but every game is different and now we just have to take every game step by step and hope,” he said.

“We are making it difficult for ourselves now, and if Chelsea keep winning it will be hard for us to get close to them. There are 11 more games, and we have to keep winning our games and hope they drop some points. 

“We gave ourselves too much to do, but now it is the same for the rest of the games. We need to win and win and hope they slip. It’s a difficult moment for us, but there is still hope.”

Bony is likely to make his first start for the club against Leicester at the Etihad tomorrow since his £28 million (Dh158.6m) move from Swansea as Manuel Pellegrini reshuffles his side.

The City boss has to act to rediscover the winning formula as he has come under pressure following a dismal week in which his side were brushed aside by Barcelona in the Champions League and then Liverpool.

The fifth-placed Reds are now seven points behind them and there is a fear Arsenal and Manchester United could also catch City if they continue to keep faltering in the top flight.

But Pellegrini said: “We are worried about our team, not the other teams that are behind us. It is important to try and continue playing the normal way.” 

Should City fail to land a trophy, he will face an anxious meeting with club chiefs at the end of the season during an annual appraisal.

Speculation is gathering pace that City are already looking at options to replace the Chilean in the summer, who only joined from Malaga in 2013.

Pep Guardiola remains favourite, but he is under contract at Bayern Munich for another year, while Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone and Jurgen Klopp – now that he has arrested the slide at Borussia Dortmund – are also on the radar.