Clrnc
The only relevant bit is the former.
City have dropped points to Everton, Forest etc. this season. We've dropped points to Southampton and Everton. These are teams in the bottom six. We nearly fumbled it against Bournemouth. These are all tough games where you need to be on it to win. Anything that not only further levels the playing field in terms of pure quality, but also disrupts the system and tactical approach that has led to you topping the league is going to make a bad result all the more likely.
And make no mistake, our system and tactics are highly strung. It's one thing loosing 3 players if you're Everton and are planning to put 10 min behind the ball and hit it long, and something else entirely if you're playing like us and you lose players crucial to enabling you to play a high line and press, pass out the back etc.
