Vincent Kompany is convinced Manchester City can retain the title - even if they lose to Liverpool on Thursday.

City will fall 10 points behind Liverpool if they lose for the fourth time in their past six league matches against the leaders at the Etihad Stadium.

But Kompany believes Liverpool will have their own blip this season and says the experience of overhauling an eight point deficit with six matches to go against Manchester United in 2011/12 to win the title is a reminder to him that there is no cause for panic whatever happens against Liverpool.

“It's easy for everybody to assume that everything rests on this game. I'm probably one of the only ones that disagrees, for the simple fact that we only had three games that we were below standard,” Kompany said of the defeats to Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Leicester last month. “That's how far we are now.

“It only takes the other teams three games below standard and if we play to our ability, we will be back in. I know how much the Premier League is a tricky league to play in. I want us to win because it gives us a better chance. Any other result, as long as we get back to the team we are, I think we will compete still.