The City Never Sleeps

Manchester City have reached the Perfect Ten... with ten consecutive league victories to surge ahead of the chasing Liverpool & Chelsea and establish a position for the Premier League title... threatening to turn this three-horse title race into a mockery. This is eerily familiar to last season; when they overcame a rough start to win 15 consecutive games & power their way to the title.

How have they done things differently that Chelsea & Liverpool can't keep up? To me; three ways: (1) the depth of squad: by constantly rotating their squad; they ensure players are kept fresh and on their toes; everyone is at risk of being dropped when they don't perform; and that is something Liverpool and Chelsea just can't replicate; (2) the tactical discipline instilled by Josep Guardiola. Their gegenpressing and tactical awareness is just on another level; and that is down to the greatest manager around - Guardiola; (3) their finishing class. They have players that produce the moment of brilliance to open up the tight games; as exemplified by Phil Foden's economic finish in this one.

To this end; their system of using a False Nine (or no Nine at all) actually works to their advantage. Opposing teams' defence usually end up with no one to mark; and their midfield is outnumbered by City's rampaging in-field full-backs; thus allowing them time & space to deliver the killer pass for on-rushing runners.