Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville claimed Manchester City should be "embarrassed" by how easy they made it for Liverpool on Sunday.
Neville, who is now part of the England coaching set-up, was critical of the Premier League champions for the way they allowed Liverpool to dominate in midfield during their 2-1 win at Anfield.
And he blamed Manuel Pellegrini's team for their inability to learn the lessons of previous games and seasons.
"If I was a Manchester City player, I'd be embarrassed how easy it is to play through them," Neville said on Sky Sports.
"We're judging Manchester City as champions of the Premier League. There has to be progression year on year, you have to get better. But this team, we keep seeing the same mistakes being made."
Former Liverpool vice-captain Jamie Carragher accused manager Pellegrini of tactical naivety in playing 4-4-2 in the Champions League home defeat to Barcelona and then again at Anfield.
And he suggested there should be a summer clear-out at the Etihad Stadium.
"To employ that system in the big games is so naive," Carragher told Sky. "It's embarrassing really for a manager at that level to go into a game against Barcelona two years running and then again at Anfield like this.
"Something is not right about City and there has to be changes at the end of the season."
City still trail league leaders Chelsea by five points, but have played a game more than Jose Mourinho's side.