LONDON — Even when Manchester City fail to hit the heights we have come to expect of Pep Guardiola’s team, they still end up basking on the sunny side of the street. The Premier League champions laboured to a 1-0 win at Brentford on Wednesday, yet they ended the day having stretched their lead at the top of table and with the seal set on a record-breaking calendar year.
Liverpool’s defeat at Leicester City on Tuesday had already given Man City an unexpected boost ahead of their first top-flight visit to Brentford since 1937, but Danny Welbeck’s stoppage-time equaliser for Brighton & Hove Albion against Chelsea — while this game was still in play — enabled Guardiola’s side to move eight points clear at the top of the table in their final game of 2021. By the time Chelsea and Liverpool play each other at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, City could be 11 and 12 points clear of their closest — or maybe least-distant — challengers, respectively, if they start 2022 with a New Year’s Day victory at Arsenal.
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“Fifty-four points to play [for]. Fifty-four. We were 4-0 [up] against Leicester and then in 20 minutes it was a 4-3,” Guardiola said after the match, downplaying the significance of his side’s rapidly growing lead over their title rivals. “Thanks for the nice words because we win, but I am not going to think it’s already done because Chelsea and Liverpool are more than exceptional.
“We won 10 games in a row, so when you get 30 from 30, you are in a good position. But there are 54 points still to play [for]. We have to come back to London on Saturday and play at 12:30, so let’s carry on.”
Even though Man City were distinctly average at Brentford, winning only through Phil Foden’s 16th-minute goal, it is impossible to bet against Guardiola’s players right now, so it will be a surprise if they don’t emerge with another three points from the Emirates.
That’s what City do. They just win,…
Source : espn
