The Premier League title will be won by either Chelsea or Liverpool this season, according to Neil Ruddock, despite Manchester City's recent thrashing of Leeds.
Pep Guardiola's side dispatched their visitors 7-0 at the Etihad on Tuesday night, sending them four points clear at the top of the table and five ahead of Chelsea.
The Blues will have the chance to narrow the gap when they face Everton on Thursday night while Liverpool are up against Newcastle in the same evening.
Despite now winning their last seven Premier League games in a row, Ruddock believes that City will run out of steam in the title race, dubbing them the easiest side of the three to play against.
"There are clearly three very good teams in the league at the moment, but I do have my doubts about Manchester City," Ruddock told WhichBookie.co.uk.
"I think they are easier to play against than Liverpool and I just wonder when the going gets tough will they really be able to sustain things? City pass the ball better than anyone, no doubt, but teams can stick all their players behind the ball and sometimes it’s very hard to break down.
"Whoever you are, if you have pace in your side, you are a danger and Liverpool have that in bundles and I just think that might be the difference.
"For me, City will give up a few too many draws along the way and I think it’s between Chelsea and Liverpool."
City have taken points from both Liverpool and Chelsea this season, beating the Blues at Stamford Bridge and drawing 2-2 with Jurgen Klopp's men at Anfield.
Thomas Tuchel led his side to a hard-fought point on Merseyside at the start of the season after Reece James was sent off in the first half for handling the ball on the goal-line.
Chelsea and Liverpool are set to meet again at the start of January although the likes of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Edouard Mendy and Hakim Ziyech could miss out owing to the Africa Cup of Nations.
