Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp can see Manchester City stumbling further in January.
City captain Vincent Kompany is serving a four-match suspension, David Silva has ankle injury and Yaya Toure will be absent for up to a month representing Ivory Coast at the African Nations Cup.
"They are still a force but if you take Yaya Toure, Kompany and Silva out of your team, you're not going to be at the same level," said Redknapp, who takes his team to the Etihad Stadium next weekend.
"They are big losses for them."