They have taken the Premier League by storm and have blown defences apart, but will Pep Guardiola’s City replicate the success set by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger back in 2002 by going the whole season undefeated.
Okay, so there are only 11 games gone, still another 25 to go, however they have taken 31 points from a possible 33 having drawn to Everton back in August. They have scored a whopping 38 goals averaging over three goals a game and are backed by bookmakers at 1/6 as the favourites to become the outright champions of England.
The dominance laid upon the league by Guardiola and co seems to be taking its toll on the betting market as well. Ladbrokes have tipped the league leaders at 12/1 to go undefeated. A price which seems to lead ideas that it is more likely than some may have first thought. They also have City to win the league by more than a margin of 18.5 points at 14/1.
City have scored nine goals against the three top six teams they have played with five of them coming against Liverpool. They boast incredible talent, Sergio Aguero is joint top goal scorer with Tottenham’s Harry Kane despite being out injured with a broken rib earlier in the campaign. The Argentine is second favourite to finish the league’s top scorer with Unibet offering the best deal at 9/2.
The sheer weight of goals City have at their disposal is remarkable. Something which is documented by the bookmakers. Ladbrokes have them down at evens to score more than 103 goals this season. Six goals at Watford, five against Crystal Palace, another seven past Stoke all without forgetting the four in their two Champions League ties against Feyenoord and Napoli.
Then come the assists and the game changing influence of their playmakers David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne. They sit top of the assists chart with seven and six respectively, even winger Leroy Sane is getting in on the act placed just behind them in third with five.
Every aspect of their game, whether it be passing, finishing, defending or checking what boots to wear seems to be pinpoint.
Despite the high calibre of players they hold in their first team, they are equally matched by the assets waiting in the wings for their call up. Bernardo Silva, Ikay Gundogan and Gabriel Jesus all have featured this term giving Guardiola welcome selection headaches on deciding who to lead his line.
Despite the absence of captain Vincent Kompany, a figure so instrumental to City’s previous successes, they have continued to disregard opponents after opponents.
Not even Barcelona (30) or Real Madrid (22) can match City’s prowess in front of goal in La Liga and if they proceed to play in the same vein who knows at 12/1, they could well go unbeaten.