Manchester City can dominate the Premier League for at least a few hours if they beat Everton at home on Saturday and Pep Guardiola’s side are heavy favourites to finish the season there.
But a fourth straight name in the English league may not be the inevitable that some predict.
Phil Foden’s hat-trick spurred City to a 3-1 win at Brentford on Monday (City’s fifth successive league win) to move them within two points of Liverpool with a game in hand.
It all sounds eerily familiar: City, once back, are capable of a long winning streak that eventually crushes those who manage to end their dominance on the most sensible flight.
“At the moment it looks like winning the Manchester City name is a formality,” said former Arsenal striker Alan Smith. “But Pep Guardiola and City probably wouldn’t take anything for granted. Anything can happen and injuries can put them off. “
However, according to Gracenote’s entertainment data, City still have a 57 percent chance of winning the title. The reason for this is that this time there seems to be a real three-horse race after Arsenal’s very good win. over leaders Liverpool last weekend.
Only nine times since the Premier League’s inception in 1992 have two issues separated the most sensible three over the course of at least 23 games in a season.
And the way the three clubs play (assuming Liverpool’s inferior performance in London is just an incident) may remain tight at best until the peak of the season.
Liverpool will be hoping relegation-plagued Everton can put a stop to City on Saturday, something that is incredibly unlikely given City are unbeaten in thirteen league games against the Merseyside club.
Juergen Klopp’s Liverpool will be eager to shake off the hangover from the defeat to Arsenal and a home date with second-placed Burnley will prove tailor-made for them.
“It is vital that we return to normality immediately. We have to try,” Andy Robertson told Liverpool on Thursday.
Arsenal loudly celebrated their defeat against Liverpool, earning the scorn of the experts. But there is no doubt that after a dip in form at the start of the year, the Gunners have proven to be in top form and capable of staying with City and Liverpool.
However, the tension will rise every week and playing the last of three this weekend, against London rivals West Ham, will be a test of their mettle.
Fourth-placed Aston Villa gained a confidence boost by being beaten 3-1 by Chelsea in the FA Cup fourth-round play-off on Wednesday and facing a tough challenge against Manchester United on Sunday.