'Guardiola will get zero sympathy from outsiders'

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions.

Jez asked: Do you still think Manchester City will be Premier League champions at the end of the season?

Phil answered: I picked Manchester City as my predicted champions before the start of the season so I will not be backing away from them after only 11 games.

What I will say is that the landscape is very different from what I expected, with City suffering many injuries - Rodri being the most debilitating of all - and looking more vulnerable than I have seen them for a long time.

Liverpool have also played into this change, looking so efficient and confident under new head coach Arne Slot.

Pep Guardiola will, of course, get zero sympathy from outsiders should he mention injuries but he has every right to do so, as other managers at the top of the table have when they get problems.

I was at Brighton on Saturday night and they could have no complaints about their fourth successive defeat. They were overpowered for most of the second half, the midfield provided little protection for the defence and Brighton targeted Kyle Walker relentlessly and successfully.

So, in answer to your question, I stick with City as champions but I am a lot less confident than I was at the start of the campaign and would now not be surprised if this was the season when their run came to an end.