With the window still open, it’s fair to say that Manchester City and Manchester United have already done well in the market. Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane will wear United red this year, and Jack Grealish will wear City blue after becoming England’s most expensive signing ever at £100m.
We may well see a few more faces come and go at both clubs, but who will come out on top this season?
The odds suggest Pep and City will find it relatively easy this season, but discount United and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at your peril as they’ve improved a lot since last season in terms of personnel. City are priced at 4/6, with United at 8/1 behind Chelsea and Liverpool to win the Premier League with some of the best betting sites like bet365 and 888 sport.
Manchester City’s first six games include Spurs, Arsenal, Leicester, and Chelsea. That’s not an easy start at all, and all four of those are games where points could potentially be lost. In contrast, Manchester United have a much easier start on paper. Their first six fixtures are Everton, Leeds, Southampton, Wolves, Newcastle, and West Ham. All are realistically winnable, which could mean United set an early pace at the top of the league by the end of September.
The league isn’t won or lost in the first few games of the season, but a good start from Ole’s men could put the pressure on Pep and his side early on. Especially if they manage six wins from six and carry over their form into October, let’s not forget that they went all of last season unbeaten away from home too.
What City need to be wary of is a loss of form based on rotation. With so many top players in their ranks, having a different starting XI every week may not be ideal for form or momentum. What also needs to be considered is the side’s main goals for the campaign ahead. Is it more important to try and win the Champions League than the Premier League? There’s no doubt they can challenge on all fronts, but it’s going to be a tricky balancing act for Guardiola.
The Etihad has recently had a pitch makeover that will give the home side the best chance possible, but it’s worth pointing out that City have not beaten their Manchester rivals in the Premier League since April 2019. It’s been three losses and a draw since. But will they come out on top this season when the sides meet in November and March? Where’s the title going? It’s going to be an exciting season, that’s for sure.
