Gary Neville reckons something is "definitely going on in the dressing room" between Pep Guardiola and one of his players amid Manchester City's dismal run of form – and fellow pundit Jamie Carragher agrees.

For the first time since 2004, City are winless in seven matches after Liverpool extended their lead at the Premier League summit to nine points with a comfortable 2-0 win over Guardiola's men.

It has been an uncharacteristically poor period for the Citizens and as a result, people are trying to figure out why.

Injuries have played a factor, no doubt, but the surprising lack of minutes for Kevin De Bruyne, one of their best players, is certainly curious.

For the fifth straight game, De Bruyne played a cameo role off the bench as Liverpool ran rampant at Anfield.

“There is a moment where maybe it’ll click," Guardiola said after the final whistle. Kevin [De Bruyne] played good minutes, Jack [Grealish] played well, Jeremy [Doku] played good minutes after a month out. Bernardo and Rico [Lewis] have a lot of minutes in their legs.”

After being brought on for the final 12 minutes of Sunday's game, speculation was rife over De Bruyne and Guardiola's relationship, with Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher and Gary Lineker all commenting on the situation.

"There are a few things that are interesting," Neville said on the latest episode of The Gary Neville Podcast. "The De Bruyne thing is unusual, bizarre, strange. Why is probably the best player the Premier League has had in the last 10 years not out there?

"We know he's had injuries but why is he not out there because he's a leader, he's got authority, he's confidence and brilliance so something is definitely going on in the dressing room.

"There's something happening but Guardiola has got complete [control] of the club, he's extended his contract and he's probably just waiting for the January and [summer] transfer windows.

"He has built two sensational football teams while he's been at the club and he's going to have to go and build a third."

Carragher also insisted that "something isn't right" between the Belgian and his manager.

"Something is going on with De Bruyne,' he said on Sky Sports. "For me, he has been the best player in the for the last five seasons. He isn't starting games and doesn't come on at half time today.

"I am not trying to cause more trouble for Manchester City but something isn't right between those two. It is sad because we are talking about one of the greatest managers, and greatest players in the Premier League.

"His contract is up this summer and I know he has had a few problems but something isn't right if he isn't in the team when he is fit."

Match of the Day host Gary Lineker also questioned whether there is a rift between De Bruyne and Guardiola.

Speaking on latest episode of The Rest Is Football podcast, he said: "De Bruyne came on again with not long to go when the game was pretty much done. Yeah, he nearly got a goal because of [Virgil] van Dijk's error, but is there something going on there, do you think? Because he's been coming on for five or 10 minutes, what, for about a month now?

"You would imagine he's getting fitter, even though I saw both of them - Pep Guardiola and De Bruyne - make interesting statements in the week, where it seems like all's not well between those two? I don't know. I've got no inside information whatsoever. The ambassador of Manchester City might, though. . .Micah?"

Richards laughed before saying: "I think you're right. There's got to be some context to it. . .this goes back [to] before the international break. De Bruyne got some minutes, but after the international break, he didn't start and then hasn't started again. But he's one who can unlock a door.

"We know with Kevin De Bruyne, you've got to wrap him in cotton wool... but a big game like this, I thought [Guardiola] was sort of saving him for this game! But even just the talks, [De Bruyne] potentially going to Saudi at the end of the year. . .it looks to me like there's some sort of rift going on between them."