Home of football statistics and historyWith just three points separating the top five teams in the Premier League after 12 games, the stage is set for an epic title battle this season.
However, the clash between Manchester City and Liverpool on November 25 will likely prove to be a fixture which involves the teams who ultimately finish first and second.
Pep Guardiola’s side head into the game with a one-point lead over Liverpool and Arsenal, while Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa are hot on their heels.
Online bookmakers have no doubts about which team will emerge victorious, with Man City rated as 4/9 shots to win the title for the fourth year in a row.
Bettors who are using the current international break to play on the best iGaming software in the hope of boosting their bankroll will probably view those odds in a favourable light.
The depth of Man City’s squad gives them a crucial advantage over their rivals and should help them deliver another winning return to punters at the end of the season.
While they were held to a thrilling 4-4 draw by Chelsea in their most recent outing, the manner of their performance bodes well for the rest of the campaign.
City led on three separate occasions during the match, but they were pegged back by a Chelsea team which undoubtedly had a point to prove after failing to live up to expectations this season.
Despite the disappointment of dropping two points at Stamford Bridge, Guardiola will know that his team would have blown most other sides away with their performance.
Their four-goal haul moved them onto 32 for the season – an average of almost three per game – which is more than enough to get them over the line in the title race.
The bookies currently rate Arsenal as the team most likely to challenge Man City for top spot, but they may have made a misstep on this occasion.
The Gunners swept Burnley aside on Saturday, but have shown enough vulnerability in other games to suggest they may struggle to keep pace with Man City and Liverpool as the season progresses.
The same can be said for Tottenham, with their lack of squad depth brutally exposed in recent defeats against Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
While Tottenham have undoubtedly improved under manager Ange Postecoglou, they will do well to hang on to a place in the top four.
Aston Villa could prove troublesome to their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League, although they must improve their away form if that is to become a reality.
It is also too early to write off Manchester United’s top four hopes, particularly given how unlucky they have been with injuries during the early party of the season.
However, when it comes to identifying which team has the best chance of knocking Man City off their perch, Liverpool are head and shoulders above the rest.
The Reds appear to rediscovered their mojo and look more than capable of mounting a sustained title challenge this season.
Mohamed Salah has been the star of the show for Liverpool and his double against Brentford on Sunday kept the Reds firmly in the title mix.
Liverpool were forced to dig deep against Thomas Frank’s side, but the manner of the 3-0 victory suggested they are serious contenders to claim top spot.
Anfield has become a fortress again, with Klopp’s side one of only three teams alongside Man City and Villa with a perfect home record up to this point.
With doubts about several other potential title hopefuls, Liverpool are a good bet to be Man City’s main challengers in the Premier League this season.
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