Manchester City midfielder David Silva has said that his side cannot afford to lose any more games in the Premier League this season.

The defending English champions are currently seven points behind leaders Manchester United.

"If we lose, then suddenly the gap is 10 points and that is when it gets really difficult," BBC Sport quotes Silva as saying. "But if we keep fighting, we hope that they (United) will falter.

"All we can do, whatever the gap is, is keep going, every game, and put them under the pressure of knowing that if they lose a game or drop any points, we will get closer to them.

"That works the other way, of course, too, because if we lose we will get further away, but we cannot think about that. We just have to continue as we are. The league is still there to be won."

City won their last six league games in the 2011-12 season to win the Premier League title on goal difference.