Premier League preview: The City juggernaut expected to land hat-trick of titles

Pep Guardiola’s City will also kick start its quest of becoming only the second team to claim a third successive title in the Premier League era, Manchester United being the only team to have achieved it so far.

Fresh from its FA Community Shield victory, Manchester City heads into the latest chapter of Premier League with the aim of defending its title once again. 

Facing West Ham United in its league opener, Guardiola’s City will also kick start its quest of becoming only the second team to claim a third successive title in the Premier League era, Manchester United being the only team to have achieved it so far.

In three years of Guardiola's reign, City has managed to book itself a place among Europe's best teams, firmly establishing itself as a Champions League regular.

Premier League preview: Can Liverpool end Manchester City's hegemony to win maiden title?

Although it didn't match its previous record-best total of 100, City accumulated 98 points last season and also achieved a joint-best record of 32 wins, staying ahead of fellow title contender Liverpool by a point and finishing the season on a high. But, the club now faces the challenging task of replicating its stellar performance.

City is undoubtedly a title contender this season, however, it remains to be seen if it would be able to do it in a similar manner, simply because it is hard to maintain high levels of performance over 38 games, and factors like fatigue, injuries and fate cannot be controlled. 

Guardiola's men will be wary of Jurgen Klopp's side, which came as close as one gets to kissing the winner's medal. But even the third-best points finish (97) in the league's long and illustrious history was not enough to get the Reds over the line, which just showed how monumental last season's title challenge was.

 

In the build-up to its campaign this year, Guardiola made two big signings in the transfer window as the Citizens welcomed Joao Cancelo and Rodri from Juventus and Atletico Madrid, respectively. 

Signed for £60 million, Cancelo arrived at Etihad as Danilo moved the other way. An attacking full-back, Cancelo can also play at left-back and move up the pitch with ease. Known for his deliveries from out wide and remarkable athleticism, he fits the player profile needed at City, according to Txiki Begiristain, the club’s director of football. 

As for Rodri, whose transfer fee (around £62.8 million) surpassed City’s previous record of £60 million for Riyad Mahrez last year, he comes in as a long-term replacement for 34-year-old Fernandinho. The price tag may seem hefty but with an impressive reading of the game and ability to break up opposition attacks, Rodri’s valuation in today’s market seems rather justified as the Spaniard is considered one of Europe’s most exciting prospects.

Amidst two big deals, City, however, failed to land defender Harry Maguire as a replacement for club legend Vincent Kompany who returned to his boyhood club Anderlecht, which means it heads into the season with a wish unfulfilled. Kompany would be missed, but for now, Guardiola will stick to John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi at the heart of defence. 

City will continue its possession-based style of play —  for it is bloody brilliant at it —  but what the team would need to be cautious about is not awarding space in behind for the opposition to exploit, while it enjoys all that possession high up the pitch. 

With Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero and Bernardo Silva, City has an attack like no other, and the ‘Shark Team’ looks all but ready to prey on the 19 opponents yet again.

Manchester City’s transfer activity Zach Steffen (£7.2m, Columbus Crew), Angelino (£5.3m, PSV), Rodri (£62.8m, Atletico Madrid), Joao Cancelo (£60m, Juventus), Scott Carson (undisclosed, Derby County) Vincent Kompany (free, Anderlecht), Fabian Delph (£8.5m, Everton), Manu Garcia (£3.6m, Sporting Gijon), Thierry Ambrose (£2.25m, Metz), Pablo Mari (£1.17m, Flamengo), Luke Brattan (free, Sydney FC), Cameron Humphreys-Grant (free, FC Zulte Waregem), Douglas Luiz (£12.5m, Aston Villa), Patrick Roberts (loan, Norwich), Jack Harrison (loan, Leeds), Ante Palaverse (loan, KV Oostende), Arijanet Muric (loan, Nottingham Forest), Zack Steffen (loan, Fortuna Dusseldorf), Paolo Fernandes (loan, Perugia), Philippe Sandler (loan, Anderlecht), Yangel Herrera (loan, Granada), Tosin Adarabioyo (loan, Blackburn), Marlos Moreno (loan, Portimonense), Lukas Nmecha (loan, Wolfsburg), Erik Palmer-Brown (loan, Austria Vienna), Tom Dele-Bashiru, Aaron Nemane, Charlie Oliver (all released).

 

Premier League fixtures

August

10: West Ham United v Manchester City 17: Manchester City v Tottenham 24: Bournemouth v Manchester City  31: Manchester City v Brighton and Hove Albion

September 14: Norwich City v Manchester City 21: Manchester City v Watford  28: Everton v Manchester City

October 5: Manchester City v Wolves 19: Crystal Palace v Manchester City  26: Manchester City v Aston Villa 

November 2: Manchester City v Southampton 9: Liverpool v Manchester City 23: Manchester City v Chelsea  30: Newcastle United v Manchester City 

December 3: Burnley v Manchester City 7: Manchester City v Manchester United 14: Arsenal v Manchester City 21: Manchester City v Leicester City 26: Wolves v Manchester City 28: Manchester City v Sheffield United 

January 1: Manchester City v Everton  11: Aston Villa v Manchester City 18: Manchester City v Crystal Palace  21: Sheffield United v Manchester City

February 1: Tottenham v Manchester City  8: Manchester City v West Ham United  22: Leicester City v Manchester City  29: Manchester City v Arsenal

March 7: Manchester United v Manchester City 14: Manchester City v Burnley 21: Chelsea v Manchester City

April 4: Manchester City v Liverpool  11: Southampton v Manchester City 18: Manchester City v Newcastle United  25: Brighton and Hove Albion v Manchester City 

May 2: Manchester City v Bournemouth  9: Watford v Manchester City  17: Manchester City v Norwich City