Follow @SBTSportBetting [Get Exclusive Tips on our Patreon, Ad-Free]
As the Premier League season edges past the halfway stage, Man City are already in a commanding position. The current champions have a ten-point lead over second-place Chelsea and a 12-point lead over Liverpool.
The Citizens are also on a current six-match unbeaten run, which has strengthened their position as the league leaders. Many sports betting tips are now placing City as the overwhelming favourites to lift their fourth title in five seasons.
However, Chelsea and Liverpool may just remain in touching distance of the Citizens. But the challengers can’t afford to put a foot wrong in the second half of the season if they are to apply enough pressure.
Are Man City too strong?
City’s 2021/22 season started slowly after Pep Guardiola’s side lost 1-0 at Tottenham on the opening day. City then went on to drop more points at home to Southampton and away at Liverpool with draws.
Since the 2-2 draw at Liverpool in early October, City has only lost one top-flight match, a 2-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace. They have now won 13 of their last 14 Premier League matches. Such form is deserving of a Premier League title and if the Citizens can maintain their current form, they will likely retain their crown as English champions.
Another bonus for the Citizens is that they have played both Liverpool and Chelsea away so far this season. The draw at Liverpool came directly after City went to Stamford Bridge and took all three points with a 1-0 win. Liverpool and Chelsea then will have to face the tough trip to the Etihad, where City have lost and drawn once this season in all competitions.
Liverpool and Chelsea’s chances
For Chelsea and Liverpool, they will be hoping that City starts to drop points as they did towards the end of the 2020/21 season. Guardiola’s side went on a similar run, winning 15 consecutive games between December and March, before losing four of their last 11 due to fixture pile ups in the FA Cup and Champions League.
But, the two challenging clubs will need to improve on their own consistency to mount any serious challenge towards City. Chelsea has dropped a lot of recent points through draws. The Blues have already drawn seven matches this season, including four in their last five against the likes of Brighton, Wolves and Everton.
Liverpool has also seen their early season form tail off over the Christmas and New Year period. After their six-match winning run between November and mid-December, the Reds have failed to win in their last three after draws with Tottenham and Chelsea and a 1-0 loss at Leicester.
Chelsea, in particular, can make a big statement of intent this weekend as they travel to the Etihad to take on City. The Blues were victorious here last season as they beat Guardiola’s side 2-1. A win could blow the title race wide open once more for Chelsea and Liverpool, but a loss may leave both sides too far adrift.
