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The 2023-24 Premier League season is shaping up to be pretty exciting for fans of English football. The current standings show a battle for supremacy between old rivals Manchester City and Liverpool.
Even though Manchester City are currently at the top with the odds across many bookies in their favour, there's just one point between the two teams. It means anything can and most likely will happen before the season ends and the champion is crowned.
Whether you're a football enthusiast or an avid punter, there's a lot to analyse when it comes to both team's performances. Let's find out what might happen as this exciting duel unravels throughout the season!
The Current Situation
After 12 games played, Manchester City stands tall at the pinnacle of the Premier League table with 28 points. Thanks to their stellar performances, they have secured nine victories, one draw and suffered two defeats.
Liverpool are just an inch behind with 27 points. Even though they have won 8 matches, they have just a single loss. Also, the goal difference isn't wide: Manchester City enjoy +20, whereas Liverpool have +17.
In the last five matches, Manchester City's form has been a mix of impressive wins, a draw, and a surprising loss against Arsenal, which was their first defeat to the Gunners in the league in eight years.
Liverpool have been more consistent, alternating victories with draws. On the surface, it looks like Liverpool have found a balance their Manchester rivals have yet to find. However, because the numbers are so similar it ensures we are in for a closely contested battle as the season unfolds.
And a crucial point is nearing. On Sat, November 25th, both teams will clash in what will undoubtedly be one of the biggest matches of the season - a true six-pointer. The psychological impact of the outcome on both teams might be critical for what happens in the rest of the season.
Champion Mentality
Last season, Manchester City won their fifth Premier League title in six years. This means the dominance of this team is nothing short of historic. Even though some might wonder if the champion effect wears off at some point, it doesn't look that way for City.
In fact, the team is well-set to win the title this season, too, and it shows in the results. Other teams, like Liverpool, feel the pressure to perform as well. This is because, last season, Man City had an amazing run of 24 games without a single loss.
It's not just about the Premier League. The team also won the Champions League and FA Cup , a feat first achieved by their hometown rivals Manchester United in the nineties.
It's as if the club is doing so many things right that the team started off the season on the right foot, literally speaking. In the first match of the season, Erling Haaland scored their first goal in just the 4th minute. It later turned into a 3-0 victory against Burnley.
With key players like Alvarez, Rodri, and Haaland in top form, together with the tactical genius of Pep Guardiola, Manchester City are poised to defend the title successfully. So, do Liverpool have any chance at all?
Liverpool’s Perspective
For Liverpool, the familiar sight of trailing behind Man City by a single point brings back memories of recent campaigns where they narrowly missed the top spot. The upcoming showdown at the Etihad Stadium on November 25th provides an opportunity for Liverpool to strike a blow to Manchester City’s title dreams.
Jurgen Klopp's side have enough about them to make the team a menace and a worthwhile contender. Especially with Trent Alexander-Arnold's emergence as a midfielder of sorts, adding an extra threat.
The attackers are also doing things right. Klopp has developed a system that makes them perform well even in atypical roles. This all-terrain approach is crucial when making the team more resilient against all kinds of opponents, and it seems to be working.
Let's not forget about Gakpo. The dutch striker, who signed from PSV, is still finding his
feet in the league, but many expect when he does, he’ll be unstoppable.
However, the clash with Manchester City has been criticised by Klopp, who considers the starting time as "not feeling football". His problem is that players come back after the international break from all over the world, and the 12:30 kickoff on Saturday November 25 means they will be able to train as a team only once before the match.
The Prediction
Because of the importance of the rest of the season, all eyes are currently on the upcoming match. This includes Didi Hamann and his prediction. He's in a very authoritative position to predict what will happen, as he's been a midfielder at both Manchester City and Liverpool.
He explained that the fixture is the biggest game in the Premier League thanks to both teams' significance. He thinks the balance might be in favour of Liverpool because they have more available players.
There are also psychological reasons. According to him, City's dominance will eventually end, and Liverpool has a "spark" that might lead them to victory.
The End of Man City's Reign?
As the battle for the Premier League intensifies, Manchester City's pursuit of sustained dominance and Liverpool's determined challenge create a captivating narrative. Rest assured that should Liverpool win the match, it will herald as the beginning of the end of Manchester City's dominance, whatever the future actually tells.
Manchester City are a side brimming, even to bursting with talent, so it will be a difficult task for Liverpool. However, a match is just a match, no matter how symbolic it might be. There are lots of things that can change throughout the season, so nobody really knows what can happen come May 19 next year.
As football fans eagerly await the twists and turns of this enthralling season, the ongoing rivalry at the summit of English football is a fantastic chapter in Premier League history.