Kyle Walker warns Man City will 'get walked over' by Liverpool next week as captain urges Pep Guardiola's team to 'go back to basics' to stop woeful run

James Maddison’s brace gave the visitors a commanding lead before Pedro Porro extended the margin to 3-0. Brennan Johnson capped off the rout with a late goal in injury time, leaving City reeling and prompting serious introspection within the squad.

Walker himself was not immune to criticism as questions were raised about his pace and defensive sharpness when the experienced England international was visibly outmanoeuvred by Timo Werner, underscoring potential weaknesses in City’s backline. However, looking ahead to Sunday’s clash at Anfield, Walker stressed the importance of turning the tide if they want to avoid another humiliation.

Speaking to Sky Sports, on next Sunday's game at Anfield, Walker said: "It's a great game to turn it around and take three points from the team who sit above you. But we can't put in a performance like that or we'll get walked over. We have a Champions League game to prepare for that massive game on Sunday and keep within touching distance of Liverpool."

Walker also pointed to the need for cohesion from all 11 players on the pitch, rather than putting the blame solely on the backline.

He added: "This is the most frustrating thing as a defender. I don't care about scoring goals, I'm bothered about clean sheets and we're not doing that. You have to go back to the basics and get a clean sheet. If we concede four goals at home we have to score five. It's not just the back four, five or six - it's all 11 players on the pitch."

Liverpool, under the guidance of Arne Slot, are enjoying a dominant spell and have lost just once in the league. A victory over Southampton this weekend could widen the gap at the summit to eight points, putting even greater pressure on City to deliver at Anfield. However, before their trip to Liverpool, City will need to refocus on an upcoming Champions League fixture against Feyenoord on Tuesday.