City year against four

He Boxing Day and in the new year 2024, they will give fans the most contested Premier League in recent years. With six points in the top five spots at Christmas, the City of Manchester now faces, with a game in hand, the challenge of once again defending its English league crown, but this time against 4 opponents ready to fight (Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur), in a season that ratchets up the excitement until the end.

Then Arsenal, as leader, and Liverpool, second, faced each other in the emotional ‘centrifuge’ of Anfield (1-1), Mikel Arteta He was not upset about conceding two points on Merseyside: “It was an incredible football match, one of the most intense I have witnessed in 20 years in this league,” reflected the San Sebastián coach, to deliberately highlight the fine balance between the teams seeking to topple City this year. What is Arsenalversion 2024, is a more resistant mentality and renewed emotional strength, which are signatures such as Declan Rice. This was shown by the goals in the last minutes, in the old and hostile Luton Town field (3-4), and the one that the English midfielder also scored in the 96th minute against Manchester United (3-1 ), on September 3 . This Arsenal is a better candidate because they are used to not giving up until the end. This is how they beat City (1-0) and Brentford (0-1).

The Gunners, who face West Ham tomorrow at the Emirates in London, have been joined by three other unlikely candidates, as few expect the club to rebuild quickly. Liverpool of Jurgen Kloppand less than Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur They showed a very high level and ability to beat any team, thanks to the ambitious style imposed by their coaches, Unai Emery and Ange Postecoglou. But all of them, the four candidates, can only count on the usual reaction of the City Pep Guardiola in the second round, when the pressure of the results will be decisive. Arsenal were five points ahead of City at Christmas last year, but eventually finished five points behind. Nor is the statistic in Premier history definitive. Only half of the leaders in December won the title.

The reigning champions, who have dominated with five titles in six years, are once again primed, after winning the Club World Cup, for typically destructive streaks at the key moment of the year. They have done it four times. He city He entrusts everyone with his experience. Despite the difference in Arsenalyour star, Kevin De Bruyne, will return in January, after his injury, ready to help the reaction. Liverpool know this very well, the only club that knows how to handle the pressure in 2020, to break the ‘skyblues’ cycle. Klopp admitted the Reds move and acknowledged Arsenal’s strength this year: “My God, how strong they are! -he said after the draw at Anfield–, but added, with hope, that they are ready for the match: “The good news is that we are fine too.” This is the toughest year for Guardiola: four against City.