Why it's folly to write off City's chances

WHILE much of the speculation ahead of this weekend's kickoff of the English Premier League has focused on champions Liverpool’ title defence and their massive spending spree, there has been little attention on Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

Most analysts seem to have written off the Citizens as title contenders, but given their recent history, that would be premature. City have won six Premier League titles since the Spaniard took over, including four successive wins from 2020 to 2024 — a first in the history of the EPL. The last time they surrendered the championship to the Reds, in the 2019/20 season, they bounced back emphatically to reclaim the title.

It seems strange, then, that last season’s runners-up Arsenal and Chelsea, who finished fourth, are more frequently listed among Liverpool's strongest potential title rivals — despite City finishing above Chelsea last season and just three points behind the Gunners.

Chelsea are trading on their heroics at the Fifa Club World Cup, a competition where Pep’s charges did not exactly cover themselves in glory. Arsenal are strongly tipped to finally shed their bridesmaids tag, with the addition of star striker Viktor Gyökeres seen as the missing piece of their puzzle. They have also strengthened in midfield and defence.