Manchester City's form since the World Cup break has been inconsistent, to say the least, with Pep Guardiola's side now seemingly second-favourites for the Premier League title behind Arsenal.

Dropped points against Everton and Manchester United, combined with poor performances against Southampton in the League Cup and in the first half of the Tottenham Hotspur victory have left Guardiola's side looking like a shadow of the side that dominated for large periods last season.

The Spanish manager didn't hold back in his criticism of players after the 4-2 win over Spurs last time out, saying:

"We cannot deny how happy we are but we are far away from the team that we were, not in terms of play, we played well in the second half, but there were many things, the competitiveness in terms of what do we have to do that we are far away, far away.

"I don’t recognise my team. My team always have passion, desire, and run and everything."

A number of players in City's side have struggled for consistent form since the World Cup break, with Phil Foden one man who has come in for some criticism after failing to pick up where he left off before Christmas.

The England international was on fire in the build-up to Qatar, hitting seven goals in three assists in the Premier League, but he has just one goal contribution since domestic football returned in England, which game in a 4-0 demolition of Chelsea in the FA Cup.

However, it is teammate Bernardo Silva who is perhaps the guiltiest party in Guardiola's squad, as the Portugal international has now gone 13 games without a single goal contribution.

Silva, who earns £150k-per-week at the Etihad, started the season well, notching two goals and five assists in the top flight, but he is now without a goal since August and without an assist since October, so it is easy to see why he has been on the bench so much recently.

Last summer saw the former Monaco man linked with Barcelona and Guardiola was undoubtedly happy to keep him at the Etihad, considering he has established himself as a "world-class" player during his time at the Etihad, in the opinion of Dion Dublin.

It is perhaps no surprise that City haven't looked at their creative best when considering Silva's disappointing run of recent form and the Portuguese maestro must improve his returns in front of goal if he is going to keep his starting spot at the Etihad, or Guardiola may be more willing to part ways with him at the end of the season.