After 12 games, no team has emerged as the Premier League champion. However, the standings are beginning to solidify and the outcome of Liverpool’s match against Manchester City on Saturday will have an impact on the race for the title.
Many teams have had great beginnings, but Manchester City remains in their usual top position. The top five clubs are only separated by three points, but Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham, and Aston Villa are still trailing behind Pep Guardiola’s team.
If the game on Saturday in east Manchester doesn’t end in a tie, there will be a significant impact on team morale. If City earns the points, it will prove they are the top team to beat. However, if Liverpool emerges as the victor, it will demonstrate their remarkable improvement since placing fifth last season.
I believe that this season, we will witness a closely contested race for the title involving City, Liverpool, and Arsenal. Unlike last season, where only two of these teams were in the running till the end, this time all three have a chance. Upon observing Arsenal, I have noticed a greater sense of maturity in their playing style. Mikel Arteta has sacrificed his flashy attacking approach in exchange for better control, which can hinder their goal-scoring abilities. While they had more intensity and energy last season, Arteta has toned it down in order to effectively manage games, especially with the added pressure of Champions League football. This adjustment may keep them in the competition for a longer period, but I doubt they have enough to clinch the title just yet.
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James Maddison and Micky van de Ven sustained injuries that impacted their performance. They are anticipated to be sidelined until the start of the new year, and it will be intriguing to see how Ange Postecoglou responds as he strives to maintain Tottenham’s progress.
Villa’s upcoming match will be challenging as they have suffered two consecutive losses. This weekend they will face off against City, and next weekend they will play against Tottenham. These are crucial matches for them, especially without their key players. 
Unai Emery’s team has had a strong start to the season, currently sitting in fifth place. However, I have concerns about Aston Villa’s ability to handle the demands of competing in both the Europa Conference League on Thursdays and the Premier League on Sundays. This is a difficult task for any club, especially since Villa has not faced this type of challenge since the 2010-11 season. One thing none of the chasers can compete with is City’s experience of winning the league. They have been champions in five of the past six seasons because they are ruthless. City’s core group of players, with countless honours, know how to get through difficulties and when they need to be at their best in a long season. Bypass the advertisement for the newsletter. after newsletter promotion
Guardiola altered the team’s approach following the departure of important players and the addition of new ones during the summer, and it has been successful thus far. For instance, Jérémy Doku brings a unique playing style as a winger compared to Jack Grealish, utilizing his dribbling abilities and speed on the wing, but he has quickly made a positive impact despite expectations that he would need time to adjust. Despite facing challenges such as the absences of John Stones and Kevin De Bruyne for a significant portion of the season, Guardiola has effectively managed the team as they continue to secure victories due to their strong teamwork and coordination.
Typically, cities tend to perform their best towards the end of the season. However, if they are well-rested compared to previous years, they may reach their peak performance earlier without having to pace themselves. Guardiola believes that City is currently performing better than last season, which is concerning. This season, they should be relatively rested since there is no major tournament disrupting their schedule like the World Cup does.
The speed at which Liverpool’s new midfield has adapted has been crucial, and their upcoming match on Saturday will be a significant challenge for them. The significance of having the correct players in the midfield was noticeable at City, where they lost all three games when Rodri was suspended. While Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister may not fit the mold of a typical defensive midfielder, not every team needs someone to disrupt their opponents’ play. I am eager to see how Liverpool’s midfield handles City and how they position themselves in front of the defense, as it could be a determining factor in their ability to compete with City until the end.
At the beginning of the season, I predicted that City would come out on top and I still stand by that. I was a bit unsure if they would struggle after achieving the treble, but they have proven otherwise. However, if Liverpool fans are exhausted on Sunday, it could indicate that we are in for an exciting competition for the title. Source: theguardian.com |
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