Premier League managers are saying the title race is already over, but the league leader doesn't think so

• Thomas Tuchel and Jurgen Klopp have both all but conceded that the Premier League title race is over.
• Manchester City is now eight points clear at the top of the table above Chelsea.

Thomas Tuchel and Jurgen Klopp have both all but conceded that the Premier League title race is over with Manchester City now eight points clear at the top of the table.

Tuchel's Chelsea was held to a disappointing 1-1 draw by Brighton on Wednesday night as its recent poor form continued, while Liverpool was beaten 1-0 by struggling Leicester City on Tuesday.

City beat Brentford 1-0 on Wednesday to record its 10th straight victory in the league and extend its lead at the top of the table with just over half of the season's games now having been played.

Tuchel told reporters after his team's draw with Brighton, which saw it leapfrog Liverpool into second place, that he doesn't think Chelsea can win the title anymore, especially due to his squad being ravaged by positive COVID-19 cases and injuries.

"We have seven COVID cases. We have five or six players out for six or more weeks. How should we compete in a title race?" he said.

Although Timo Werner was the only Chelsea player absent with COVID-19 for the clash with Brighton, Thiago Silva, Ben Chilwell, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek were all ruled out with injury.

"Everyone else who has a full squad, everybody in training has the full power to come through this league," Tuchel added.

"We would be stupid to think we can do it out of COVID and injuries. Just play and everybody would be stupid to do it without 23 fit players."

After Liverpool's loss to Leicester, Klopp also conceded that the title race may now be over.

"It's a big gap," the Reds boss reporters. Liverpool is currently third in the table and trail City by nine points, but have one game in-hand over the league leaders.

"To top that, Chelsea and us play against each other. It was not our plan to give City the chance to run away," he added.

"If we play like tonight we do not think about catching up with City, but if we play our football we can see what that means."

Guardiola does not agree, however

Despite his side now well clear at the top of the Premier League, City boss Pep Guardiola is not ready to write off his opponents.

Twice during Guardiola's tenure as City manager has it managed to leapfrog Liverpool to win the title despite the Reds leading the table at Christmas. So, Guardiola is well aware of the threat those close behind his team can pose after the New Year.

"There are 54 points to play for," Guardiola said after City's win over Brentford, which saw his side a record 36th top flight win of the calendar year.

"All of you, thank you for your nice words because we win but I am not going to believe any words you say about it is already done or expected because Chelsea and Liverpool are more than exceptional. One is champions of Europe and the other has been our big rivals over the years.

"The distance is not because they drop points but because we win 10 games in a row. But there are 54 points still to play [for]."

Manchester City next travel to Arsenal on Saturday, while Chelsea host Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.