LITTLE WONDER THIRD TITLE BID IS DRAINING PEP

THERE have been 16 teams that have retained the title; just five that have won three on the spin. So Manchester City’s struggle in the wake of Liverpool is nothing unusual, despite the toll it appears to be taking on Pep Guardiola. The effort required to win three straight can be seen through history. Going back to 1900-01, Aston Villa finished 15th in an 18-team league, chasing three in a row. The Wednesday, as they were, came ninth in 1904-05 doing the same, and Liverpool were 12th in 1923-24. The more recognisable Sheffield Wednesday were a decent third in 1930-31, but 14 points adrift of title winners Arsenal which is the equivalent of being 21 points shy today. Portsmouth finished seventh in 1950-51, and Manchester United ninth in 1957-58, although that was also the season of the Munich disaster. Even a great Liverpool team could just about limp into fifth place in 1980-81 — although they did win the European Cup. Only in the Premier League era, when a small group of elite clubs tend to switch positions in the top four or six, has a tilt at a third straight title not come at an obvious physical cost. The last four teams to retain the Premier League trophy — Manchester United three times, Chelsea once — have all come second the next season, and United by a single point each time. Perhaps that has given a false impression of what is being attempted. For Manchester City to have kept pace with Liverpool given their record-breaking start would have been one of the greatest achievements in football history. That is why the third win is so rare. If Guardiola is drained, it is understandable. George Ramsay, the secretary-manager known as the founder of Aston Villa, probably found it tough 118 years ago, too.