Play.
Man City is a shoo-in to defend their title.
Man City has an eight-point lead over the rest of the table. (1:33)
5:59 PM
Even though Manchester City fail to hit the heights we have come to expect of them, they still end up basking on the sunny side of the street. The seal was set on a record-breaking calendar year after the champions stretched their lead at the top of the table despite labouring to a win.
The result of Tuesday's game atLeicester gave Man City an unexpected boost ahead of their first top-flight visit to Brentford since 1937, but Danny Welbeck's last-minute goal gave the Seagulls a 2-2 draw with the Blues. If City win at Arsenal on New Year's Day, they will be in a position to win the title by the time they play their closest rivals, either at home or away.
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Fifty-four points to play. Fifty-four. After the match, he downplayed the significance of his side's rapidly growing lead over their title rivals. Thanks for the nice words, but I am not going to think that it's already done because of the quality of the teams.
You are in a good position if you get 30 from 30. There are 54 points left to play. We have to come back to London on Saturday at 12:30 so let's keep going.
It is impossible to bet against the Man City players right now, so it will be a surprise if they don't get another three points.
That's what the city does. They win relentlessly. The result is usually the same for a team that is on course for a fourth title in five seasons.
It is a team that has played without a classic centre-forward for most of this year, with the departure of Sergio Aguero and the failure to sign Harry Kane and CristianoRonaldo forcing the team to play with a variety of false nines. Imagine how far ahead they would be with Kane,Ronaldo or Erling Haaland at the end of the team.
Even though they don't have a definitive No. 9, City have scored 51 goals in 20 games this season, one more than their nearest rivals. While they sit with a commanding lead having just passed the halfway stage of the season, it is Man City's performance and statistics from January to December that really hammer home the reality of their dominance of English football.
Manchester City capped a record-setting year with their 36th win of the calendar year, defeating Brentford.
In the first year of the league, City have won 36 of their 44 games and scored 113 goals. Their tally of over 100 points in the year of 2021 is more than any other team. City have played three more league games than the other two teams, but they have played two more games than the other two.
They have scored 32 more goals than an outstanding team including Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, and 43 more than a team that won the cup.
Dan Thomas is joined by Craig Burley, Shaka Hislop and others to debate the biggest storylines. You can stream on the U.S. only.
In a calendar year, Man City have set a new record of 36 top-flight wins, beating the previous record of 33 set byLiverpool in 1982. Their 19th away win in the league was two more than the previous record, by Spurs in 1960.
Foden's first-time finish from Kevin De Bruyne's cross was the difference as City ended the year with a frustrating end. During the 90 minutes, the home side restricted City to just four attempts on target, but they never looked like they were in danger.
They did not cut loose and cause the kind of defeat that others have had to endure, but City were always in control. The title race is eight points clear and coasting.
Don't expect them to blow it.
