manchester city has already set an eight-point gap between them and their closest challengers, Manchester United, in Premier League even before we hit a half of the season. The Citizens have played thirteen Premier League matches drawing in just one while winning the rest of the matches. Manchester City has defied the fallacy of the home team advantage by earning more points on the roads than they've managed in their backyard.
The only match that the Citizens failed to win in this season Premier League campaign was the 1-1 home draw against Everton that happened in the second league game.
The Manchester outfits have not only been impressive in the domestic league but also in Europe where the Citizens won all the five Champions League group matches played so far.
The Citizens overcoming all their obstacles
The first barrier that blocked the Citizens' way was Liverpool where many pundits expected the game to be highly contested and even swing in Liverpool's favor, but that wasn't the case. Before the match, Liverpool had thumped Arsenal 4-1, so it was a game to watch. Besides, Liverpool had finished fourth in Premier League in the previous season — a position behind Manchester City, who finished third. Two braces from Gabriel Jesus and Leroy Sane together and a goal from Sergio Aguero were enough to ensure that the Reds were humbled with a 5-0 humiliation at Etihad Stadium.
The second challenge was against the reigning champions, Chelsea, at Stamford late in September where many soccer fans expected the Blues to prevail given that it had happened before on the same ground. Last season, Chelsea beat Manchester City, both at home and at Etihad Stadium, on their way to winning the English crown. Just a goal from Chelsea former midfielder, Kevin de Bruyne was enough to hand the visitors the crucial maximum points.
In fact, the Citizens followed the win over the champions with a 7-2 humiliation to Stoke City a fortnight later.
On November 5, Arsenal was the guest at Etihad Stadium and just like the previous matches — many fans expected Arsenal to be the first team to put to a sudden halt the Sky Blues' long strides toward the title. Manchester City remained well on course after defeating the Gunners 3-1.
Two weeks later, the Citizens made a trip to the team that handed the Premiership crown to Chelsea- Leicester City. It looked like the Foxes had what it took to outsmart the witty Citizens, but when Scott Graham blew full-time whistles, Pep Guardiola's side was leading 2-0. The only English giants that are waiting to stop the Citizens from marching on to glory, at least in the first leg of the league, are Tottenham Hotspurs and Manchester United.
Manchester City's squad depth
The Citizens have been doing well in the league even at the times when they're missing key players either through suspensions or injuries. Two days before facing off with Chelsea, Sergio Aguero who's the City's talisman was involved in a car crash in the Netherlands, but it didn't stop the Citizens from downing the champions.
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has missed many matches his team has played in this term, but the team has never lacked leadership under the vice-captain, David Silva.
The absence of the Manchester City players battling various injuries hasn't been evident as the team is on an eleven-match winning streak in the league. Benjamin Mendy has just featured sparingly since his transfer from Monaco in the summer. Other new signings who are injury-stricken are Kyle Walker who joined from Tottenham Hotspurs and Bernardo Silva who's among the several stars who left Monaco in the summer transfer.
Even with injuries and suspensions, Manchester City has a full squad that's enough to make a team capable of competing in Premier League and finishing in top ten.
Almost every position in Manchester City team has at least two players with nearly equal ability in ball display.
Pep Guardiola's ambition
It was last season that Manchester City manager finished for the first time in his coaching career without silverware. Pep Guardiola launched his managerial career at Barcelona youth team before taking the helm of the senior team a season later when Frank Rijkaard left the club. In the 2008/09 season, Guardiola won every possible title with Barcelona before joining Bayern Munich periods later and continuing to lift titles. Guardiola would like to show the world that normalcy has been restored and he will keep winning medals.
However, Manchester City shouldn't be complacent with their good run of events the way they did in the previous season.
In the last term, the Citizens won all their opening six Premier League matches only to surrender their lead in the league to Chelsea as Guardiola's men battled for a top-four finish when the league was concluding.