Man City eyes top spot in 3-horse title race

LONDON (Reuters) – Manchester City can top the Premier League for a few hours at least if it beats Everton at home on Saturday and Pep Guardiola’s side is the firm favorite to end the season there.

But a record fourth successive English league title is perhaps not the foregone conclusion some are predicting.

Phil Foden’s hat-trick inspired City to a 3-1 victory at Brentford on Monday – City’s fifth league win in a row – to put it two points behind Liverpool with a game in hand.

It all feels ominously familiar with City looking capable again of the long winning streak that ultimately grinds down those seeking to end its domination of the top flight.

According to entertainment data experts Gracenote, however, City is still only 57% likely to win the title.

The reason being is that this time there appears to be a genuine three-horse title race after Arsenal’s superb victory over leader Liverpool last weekend.

Only on nine occasions since the formation of the Premier League in 1992 have two points separated the top three at least 23 matches into a season. And the way all three clubs are playing – assuming Liverpool’s below-par display in London was just a blip – it could stay tight at the top right into the climax of the season.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool will be anxious to shake off any hangover from the defeat at Arsenal and a home date with second-from-bottom Burnley looks tailor-made for it. There is no doubt that after a loss of form at the start of the year, the Gunners look back in the groove and capable of staying with City and Liverpool.

Fourth-placed Aston Villa received a jolt to its confidence as it was beaten 3-1 by Chelsea in an FA Cup fourth-round replay on Wednesday and it faces a tough test against a rejuvenated Manchester United on Sunday.