SEASON AT A GLANCE
Manchester City have amazed one and all this season. The Sky Blues put up a historic show last season convincing us that it was the peak under Pep Guardiola.
12 games into the season, many pundits have already admitted they are better, fiercer and more dangerous than ever before. Liverpool have spent heavily, Chelsea have been in the form of their lives, Arsenal are playing better than they have in the last few years. And teams have been determined to put their best foot forward when they face up to Pep’s team but nothing has stopped the Catalan from orchestrating one demolition after the other.
In 19 games across all competitions, they have scored a mind-boggling 55 goals already, averaging 20 shots on goal per game with an average possession of 63.7%. They have conceded just 5 goals in 12 games in the league and it will take a brave man to call someone else for the title at this stage of the season.
TOP PERFORMERS
The squad has been amazing and there hasn’t been too much difference between the players. But if we had to pick 3 players to have stood out the most, we’d probably go with Aymeric Laporte, David Silva and Bernardo Silva.
The left-footed centre-back has been immense. He has stepped up a couple of levels over the summer leaving Otamendi and Kompany behind and is the best central defender in the Premier League right now. He hasn’t yet lost a match in the league in a City shirt which is a scary and astonishing stat. He has featured for the entirety of all the matches this season barring the one against Oxford United in the Carabao Cup.
The other two players mentioned, the two Silvas, have been enigmatic and industrious and inventive and have more than atoned for Kevin De Bruyne’s unfortunate absence till now. David Silva keeps surprising everybody and despite his already high levels, seems to get better with each passing season.
Bernardo Silva has taken to his deeper role like fish to water and has been a revelation. He took his time to settle down last season in a similar manner to that of Sane when the German had first come in. But he has come into his own and has been arguably their best player this season.
PLAYERS TO DISAPPOINT
There hasn’t been a single City player who has failed to put in a shift and impress onlookers. Injuries to Kevin de Bruyne and Mendy have been the only unintentional blemish till now.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
City will probably not be happy with just the Premier League title. The club and its hierarchy’s desire for the UCL is not a secret and that will be at the forefront of their aims but retaining the PL amidst such cut-throat competition will surely satisfy a number of fans.
Stats Courtesy: Whoscored