Liverpool star Xherdan Shaqiri insists their recent slump is "normal" as they aim to rediscover their best form against Manchester City.
The Reds were dealt a second straight defeat at Anfield in midweek as Brighton secured a surprise win.
It means Jurgen Klopp's side have won just two of their last eight league outings.
City have been able to open up a seven-point gap despite playing a game less but Shaqiri clams the defending champions are "not robots".
The Swiss international has been getting more opportunities than in recent years due to the host of injuries in the Reds squad.
But the forward maintains they are one of the league's elite and the title race remains wide open.
"We are like normal people who have ups and downs. That's normal. We are not robots who can always be on 200 per cent," he told the Daily Mail .
"The teams in the Premier League are good, even the small teams are difficult to play. The top teams are not always good. It's not just us.
"Maybe we have had a few games where we were not so good. There have been a lot of top teams this season who have not been on top form but we are still there and in the top three or four so we cannot complain it's so bad. I see it differently to people from outside.
"We are one of the best teams in the Premier League and the world. We are normal people and not robots.
"So we have weak moments sometimes when we are not so good and other teams are getting better all the time and that's also a normal thing in life.
"We are in the best league in the world and this season you can see that everybody can beat everybody. It's going to be an interesting season.
"The league title is still open. It's going to be special in this way."
