However, despite thrashing runaway leaders Liverpool 4-0 last week, they currently sit a staggering 23 points adrift of their rivals, which will become a new Premier League record if maintained.

Potter is unsure what exactly has caused the disparity but suggested it may be down to small margins.

"It's hard. I haven't analysed all the games. Liverpool just in terms of the relentlessness of the points that they are achieving is just incredible," he said.

"Man City, if you look at their performances, it's still a really, really high level, in terms of shots, in terms of chances, in terms of chances conceded, it's still really, really high.

"But obviously the points tally is the key and sometimes that's the margins in the Premier League that go against you."

City have been in free-scoring form at the Etihad Stadium since the restart, hitting 17 goals without reply during emphatic wins over Arsenal, Burnley, Liverpool and Newcastle.

Away games have proved far more tricky for Guardiola's men and they travel to the Amex Stadium having lost their last three league games on the road, including a 2-0 defeat to rivals Manchester United back in March.

They bounced back from last weekend's shock loss at Southampton by hitting five against Steve Bruce's Magpies on Wednesday evening.

Potter believes his weekend opponents do not dwell on disappointment and feels his side must produce an almost faultless display to pull off a surprise result.

"They lost against Southampton 1-0 but on another day they win that game quite a few times, that's the beauty of football," said Potter.

"I think how Man City are they put it to bed pretty quickly the disappointments.

"They bounced back with a really good victory. They will be ready, they're a top team and we're expecting a very, very tough game.

"You need to have a lot of luck, you have to play well, you have to defend well, you have to do everything pretty much perfectly from your perspective.

"And you hope that you have an opponent on an off-day. You need different things to fall for you because the level is so high and from a points perspective you can see that."