The Premier League is back with a bang this weekend 20 teams line-up for more thrilling action over the course of the next nine months! Some of the world’s best players are set to do battle again and in our list of football previews ahead of the new campaign, we start with last season’s title winners, Manchester City. Can they lift yet another league championship under Pep Guardiola? Check out our preview below and the football betting on City’s odds to win the title!
Manchester City Preview
City are undoubtedly one of the biggest football clubs in the world now after living in the shadows of their city neighbours, Manchester United, for nearly 50 years.
The 2011/12 season was a real turning point for the Blues, lifting a first league title for 44 years after a quite incredible afternoon at the Etihad Stadium. Sergio Aguero’s stunning winner against QPR is one of the Premier League’s most iconic moments and since that moment, City have unquestionably stamped their authority on English football, lifting a whole host of silverware in the past decade.
Their main rivals over the past four or five years have been Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. Although not as dramatic as their 2012 title win, it once again came down to the last game of the season. City were losing 2-0 at home to Aston Villa, whilst Liverpool were beating Wolves with the title on its way to Anfield. However, in the space of five devastating second-half minutes, City turned round their deficit to lift a third Premier League trophy in four seasons.
Although City lost 3-1 to Klopp’s Reds in the Community Shield at the weekend, you can bank on Guardiola’s men bouncing back in style from that chastening defeat. First up, however, is a tricky trip to the Olympic Stadium to face West Ham on Sunday afternoon. Will it be another memorable season for De Bruyne and co?
Transfer Ins and Outs
Key Arrivals
Erling Haaland (Striker) – £54million from Borussia Dortmund
Kalvin Phillips (Midfielder) – £44million from Leeds United
Stefan Ortega (Goalkeeper) – Free transfer from Arminia Bielefeld
Key Departures
Raheem Sterling (Forward) – £50million to Chelsea
Gabriel Jesus (Striker) – £46million to Arsenal
Oleksandr Zinchenko – £31.5million to Arsenal
Fernandinho (Midfielder) – Free transfer to Atletico Paranaense
Manchester City Odds
City are strong favourites to win the title. They are odds-on around the 8/13 mark to win a third Premier League title in a row.
Manchester City Predictions
There is no question that City are worthy favourites to win the Premier League once again. They have kept talisman Kevin de Bruyne and if he stays fit, he will be one of the league’s most influential players again.
Kalvin Phillips will replace the void left by Fernandinho. If he stays fit and recaptures the form that made him one of England’s best players at Euro 2020, he will be vital for Guardiola to ensure goals are hard to come by through the centre of the pitch.
Erling Haaland will be one of the league’s top goalscorers. His record at such a tender age is phenomenal and he is lethal with either foot. However, he had a competitive debut to forget in the Community Shield, missing a host of key chances. Fortunately, the Leeds-born Norwegian oozes self-confidence and he will be backing himself to score on his league debut against the Hammers at the weekend.
The departures of Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus certainly make them weaker from wide areas. This is where Jack Grealish can start to repay some of that huge fee paid for him in the summer of 2021. If he hits the ground running, Sterling and Jesus won’t be missed.
It will be close again but we can see the Blues lifting yet another Premier League trophy next May.
Prediction: 1st (Title winners)
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