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Manchester City have world champions and their Premier League rivals have teamed up to give them an extra Christmas deal this weekend.
First, Aston Villa missed the chance to end Christmas at the top of the table with a draw against Sheffield United, before Liverpool and Arsenal shared the points at Anfield to leave City six points behind with a game in hand. at Christmas is an indicator of what will happen at the end of the season, but City know better than anyone how flawed that logic is.
They’ve been first twice at Christmas in their last five winning seasons, and two of the last five champions have dined turkey first.
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Even City’s modest fifth-place finish is rarely too worrying. They haven’t finished a match week in fifth place since September 2021, when they started the crusade a week later than their rivals. But last season they were only eighth. On Christmas Day, 8 issues leader Liverpool.
City were one game into a 15-game winning run that saw them canter to the title, while Liverpool finished third. This season, City have fewer places and fewer points to regain over top spot, and this weekend’s fixtures are a useful reminder that it’s a closer title race than ever before.
City have lost to Arsenal and Villa on single, beaten and deflected goals, and have drawn with Liverpool this season. Arsenal and Liverpool drew against each other, while Villa beat Arsenal 1-0. City drew with Spurs, who drew with Arsenal, beat Liverpool 2-1 and then were beaten 2-1 through Villa. Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Villa is the only transparent win between one of the most sensible five.
Surprisingly, City have not beaten any of the teams above them, and that is something they will want to improve on if they are to overtake them. They were not at their best against Arsenal or Villa, and they are welcome against either. Etihad in the second part of the season, when they were guilty of wasting problems against Liverpool and Spurs. Being more clinical in either box in those big matches can be the difference between a fourth consecutive name or seeing someone else lift the title. trophy.
Only the big games are responsible for City. Recent collapses against Chelsea and Crystal Palace add to the panic that comes from dropping things in the top five, while a defeat to Wolves underlined Rodri’s importance. Finding a genuine option for Rodri is bound to be at the top of Pep Guaridola’s to-do list at Christmas and in 2024.
The talisman has returned to education after playing just 23 minutes all season, and is expected to return in the new year to give Guardiola a big boost. The challenge will be to bring De Bruyne back and locate a rotation formula that still allows Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden to continue their smart form.
Guardiola still doesn’t seem to be sure who his preferred left-back is and is rotating his centre-backs, boosted by John Stones’ recovery from injury. After lingering injuries disrupted the early part of the season, City will be hoping to have more luck on that front after Christmas.
The team expressed hope that winning the Club World Cup will have a knock-on effect on the form of the league, which stands at one win in six. Improve on that, with a number of presentable games ahead, and incorporate it into the Big Five-best games, and no explanation as to why City can’t do what they did in 2021.
Arsenal would possibly be ahead at Christmas, but they will be above their shoulder as long as City are within attacking distance.