Manchester City will start their Premier League campaign next month in the unknown position to be third favorites
For the first time since 2020, Manchester City does not start Premier League campaign as a champion. And in what feels like the first time forever, they don't start to be champions as favorites.
Liverpool takes first place with the most bookmakers and the side of Pep Guardiola is not even seen as the second best chance with Arsenal that is ahead of them. It is clear that those predictions are not always good, but it is a good indicator of where the experts – and fans put who put money on the winners before the season has started – expect the title to go in May.
In the regular debate about whether City has again found the quality and mind that saw them win four league titles in a row, the audience seems to be more convincingly needed before they are ready to support the blues about Liverpool and Arsenal. And if that is the popular mood, this is the feeling in numerous Premier League dressing rooms.
City lost their aura and the feeling that opponents should be perfect to beat them last season. Instead of kicking competitions to pray that they were coming, it became more and more brutal against one side that was welcomed under pressure.
That makes the blues more vulnerable, but it can also decrease part of the pressure. Guardiola has spoken many times about the difficulties of expectations that they will win 5-0 every week and pack the Premier League title four months early -and then there is a compliment to beat the champions.
“We won six in seven – we won the Premier League. But we start from zero. There are 114 points to play for,” he said at the start of last season.
“If people say we are favorites, we have to accept it and live with it. Every season is increasingly difficult. Everyone wants to beat us – that's normal.”
At least for one season, that cloak is transferred to Liverpool with the side of Arne Slot the larger scalp now that they have dethroned the city. In the Emirates, Arsenal has again published Big to try to finally get Mikel Arteta and his side over the line in the Premier League race after struggling to tackle the pace last year.
Teams still want to beat City because of what they have achieved in the past, but their new reputation is as vulnerable to transitions and in transition as a team, she can give a problem less to deal with last season and reclaim their title as English champion.