Pep Guardiola can keep City in top spot (Picture: Manchester City FC via Getty Images)
Pep Guardiola has a crunch question to answer as Manchester City attempt to take their Premier League dynasty to an unprecedented level.
They have won the title three years in a row and five times since 2018 and stormed to a historic Treble last season by also lifting Champions League and FA Cup.
Now Pep has to determine whether his squad still have the hunger to go again and finish above fellow contenders Arsenal, Manchester United, Newcastle and Liverpool.
Last season’s success will have been draining mentally and physically and could leave City vulnerable, but when neighbours United won the same three trophies in 1999 they set off on a run of their own in which they were top dogs in the league for three of the next four seasons.
On the other hand, no club has ever won four top-flight titles in a row with Arsenal, Huddersfield, Liverpool and City all winning it three consecutive times – a feat United achieved twice. Interesting.
It’s a blow that Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez have left for new adventures but that merely creates opportunities for class acts like Jack Grealish, Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez to enjoy increased minutes in City’s fluid style of play.
Their defence, which was the joint-best in the league last term, has also been ominously strengthened by the arrival of Croatia centre-half Josko Gvardiol while Mateo Kovacic, brought in from Chelsea, and England international Kalvin Phillips – likely improved after a year bedding in – will provide a protective shield deep in midfield.
There’s also exciting youngsters like Cole Palmer and Rico Lewis champing at the bit, so perhaps there’s not quite the concern many City fans may have feared.
Kevin De Bruyne will be unstoppable once again this season (Picture: Getty Images)
Erling Haarland won the Golden Boot last season with 36 Premier League goals and he’s no better than 8/11 with Betfred and Sky Bet to do so again, while the former Borussia Dortmund striker is 5/2 with Betway to be the PFA Player of the Year with the outstanding Kevin De Bruyne next in the betting at 8/1 with Paddy Power after scoring ten goals last term with 16 assists.
So, our own big question which must be answered is can City scoop the title yet again?
The emphatic answer is yes. Lump on them at Betway’s 5/6 although Paddy Power’s 5/1 straight forecast on City finishing first with Arsenal second looks pretty sound.
• England are 3/1 favourites to hoist aloft the Women’s World Cup with Betway and 4/1 with bet365 to reach the semi-finals by beating Colombia with both teams scoring.
• Scottie Scheffler is 13/2 with Coral, Paddy Power, Betfair and Ladbrokes among others to win the St Jude Championship as the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup series tees off. Viktor Hovland is 20/1 with William Hill, Sam Burns is 35/1 with Paddy Power and our final each-way is Max Homa at 33/1 with the latter firm.
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City can win Premier League for a record fourth straight year.