‘Citizens’ marksmen pull trigger with deadly relish
Next up Burnley must be shaking in their boots
MANCHESTER City will be aiming to continue their recent scintillating form when the free-scoring Premier League leaders host Burnley today.
Pep Guardiola’s side are two points clear of second-placed Manchester United as they chase a first English title since 2014.
While the “Citizens” have been finding the net at a record-breaking rate, champions Chelsea are stuck in a rut and lie nine points off the top ahead of their clash with Watford.
Here are five things to look out for in the League this weekend:
Inspired by Kevin de Bruyne’s majestic form, Manchester City have taken the Premier League by storm and Burnley could be the next lambs to the slaughter.
City’s 7-2 rout of Stoke City last weekend made them the first English top-flight team to score 29 times in their first eight games since Everton in 1894-95.
De Bruyne has been key to City’s surge – the Belgian’s 32 assists are the most by any Premier League player in the period since September 2015. Adding Leroy Sane, Gabriel Jesus, Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling to the mix is almost cruel on City’s opponents.
Without a win in three games in all competitions, Chelsea are in danger of being cast adrift in the title race as the injury bug bites hard at Stamford Bridge.
Having already lost N’Golo Kante, Victor Moses and Danny Drinkwater to injuries, Blues boss Antonio Conte could have done without David Luiz, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Gary Cahill suffering knocks in the midweek clash against Roma.
Add in Roma’s fightback from two down to earn a 3-3 draw and it was all to much for Conte, who lashed out at Jose Mourinho’s criticism of managers who complain about injuries.
Ahead of fourth-placed Watford’s visit to the Bridge, Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta reflected the frustration, saying: “The mood at the moment is not the best. We have to get back to winning ways.”
Fresh from their impressive 1-1 draw at European champions Real Madrid on Wednesday, Tottenham Hotspur will pose a severe threat to Liverpool’s hopes of building on their much-needed 7-0 demolition of Maribor.
Liverpool eased the pressure on boss Jurgen Klopp with that win, but, back in domestic action, they have no margin for error after one win in their last five league games.
In the opening weeks of the season, Manchester United were playing with such a stylish swagger that it was briefly possible to believe Mourinho had changed his spots at last. With another away game coming up at Huddersfield Town today, it will be intriguing to see if Mourinho allows his players more freedom against a less intimidating opponent. The fixtures are: Today: Chelsea v Watford, Huddersfield v Manchester United, Manchester City v Burnley, Newcastle v Crystal Palace, Stoke v Bournemouth, Swansea v Leicester, Southampton v West Brom.
Tomorrow: Everton v Arsenal, Tottenham v Liverpoo. — AFP