Manchester City are the team to beat this season should anyone hope to wrestle away their Premier League crown.
After strolling to the title last term, the reigning champions have once again strengthened their squad and are outright favourites to take the title at -160, well clear of Liverpool and Chelsea in joint-second.
Pep Guardiola will be looking to claim his fourth title in six seasons in England’s top-flight, and history is on his side - only twice in seven attempts has a Guardiola side failed to retain its league title.
His side will once again enter a new season looking stronger than they did last time out, with the British transfer record £100 million acquisition of Jack Grealish having bolstered an attack that already outscored everyone in the country last term.
City’s league-leading 60% average possession per 90 mins last season was well clear of second-placed Liverpool (54%), but their complete dominance of the ball regularly sees teams defending deep in heavy numbers and challenges Pep’s side to find a way through.
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“[He] controls the tempo,” said Guardiola. “I love when he has the ball he stops before the dribble and the opponent stops as well. He controls the tempo when he accelerates and decelerates.
“We believe that he will be perfect for us and for the age, quality plus he is English. I'm sure he will be an incredible player for the national team and we’re delighted to have him with us.”
The England man’s creativity will also alleviate some of the burden on Kevin De Bruyne, City’s creative fulcrum who led the league in key passes last season and was second only to Harry Kane in assists.
Grealish however was almost level with De Bruyne in both of those metrics and even created one more chance than the latter’s 81 over the course of the campaign.
"Kevin De Bruyne is my favourite player,” revealed Grealish. “He's probably the most perfect footballer in the Premier League.
"Although I had a good season last year, my big chances created weren't as high as other people in my position. I think now my expected assists and big chances created are up there as well. So that's what I wanted to improve on, and that was obviously because of looking at De Bruyne, looking at his game and what he does."
City will certainly have no problem creating chances, no matter how many opposition defenders lay in wait - but with Sergio Aguero having now departed the club, who will score the goals?
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Despite City hitting 10 more goals than the next highest scorers, Manchester United, last season, only midfielder Ilkay Gundogan appeared in the top 10 of the Premier League goalscoring charts with 13.
City will look to address that by bringing in the man who topped that list, Harry Kane. Should the England international join Grealish at City, Pep’s side will look unstoppable, particularly when they are so accomplished at stopping the opposition.
The champions not only outscored everyone last term, but they conceded the fewest number of goals, too, their mean defence giving up just 32 goals all season. City are, without doubt, the team to beat.
Manchester City are favourites to win the Premier League with SBD
