Pep Guardiola is embarking on his first season in English football having taken over from Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City in the summer.

And the former Bayern Munich and Barcelona boss must be pretty happy with the way his side have played in the first three months of the campaign.

City are third in the Premier League after winning seven of their first 11 league matches, including a 2-1 win over neighbours Manchester United in September.

However, it hasn’t all been plain sailing for Guardiola’s side, who have won just one of their last five league games, and have drawn their last three at the Etihad Stadium.

Nevertheless, they are third in the league and just two points adrift of Liverpool at the top and, combined with a sensational 3-1 win over Barcelona and the likelihood of progression from their Champions League group, confidence is growing around the Manchester club.

Subsequently, many are speculating whether or not City can win the Premier League this season, but here are THREE reasons why they won’t be lifting the trophy in May…

Defensive concerns

When you look at that Manchester City back five, would any of them get into a best Premier League defence? It’s highly unlikely.

The full-back areas are the main concern, with Aleksandar Kolarov, Gael CIichy, Bacary Sagna, and Pablo Zabaleta all the wrong side of 30, and there are doubts about whether they are good enough to play to Guardiola’s style.

Also, there are still question marks over goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, although he has improved in recent weeks, and the first choice centre-back pairing of John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi is solid, but you need able deputies as, at some stage, one if not both will get injured or suspended.

With Vincent Kompany too injury-prone to be relied upon, there are huge doubts about whether this City defence can perform well enough to win the title.

What if Aguero gets injured?

Sergio Aguero is arguably the best striker in the division, and has been ever since his arrival from Atletico Madrid in 2011.

However, he has also sustained a lot of injuries in his time at the Etihad, and it must concern City fans if he gets injured again at some point this season.

Yes, Kelechi Iheanacho did well when Aguero got suspended at the start of the season, but it’s unlikely that he’ll be able to lead the line for six plus matches if needed.

The same could be said of Nolito who, although he has occasionally done well, is still adapting to English football.

When they won the league in 2011/12, Roberto Mancini had Aguero, Edin Dzeko, and Mario Balotelli as his forward options, and they netted 50 league goals between them that season.

When they won the league in 2013/14, Manuel Pellegrini had Aguero, Dzeko, Alvaro Negredo and Stevan Jovetic leading the line, and they netted 45 league goals between them that season.

Looking at the current options, it’s difficult to see those numbers being reproduced this season.

European distraction

Guardiola’s high-intensity style of football is all well and good when you’re only playing once a week, but City have got the Champions League to contend with as the season progresses.

Although it’s not too bad now given they are out of the League Cup, should they qualify from their group, they could face Champions League, FA Cup replays and a few Premier League matches in midweek from February.

And, with the way City are playing at the moment, they are covering considerably more ground than in previous seasons, will they be able to keep it up come February/March time? It’s a tough ask.

Several of these players will need time to adapt to both the style of play itself, but also the fitness that it demands of them.

Not just that, but can Guardiola really afford to rest the likes of Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundagon, whose absences so far this season have already proved how integral they are to this side?

Competing on three fronts come the New Year is going to seriously test this City squad, and it could be a test they are unable to overcome.