City’s worst run of the season started with that 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge, which was entertaining for the neutral, but certainly one that got away for City. Draws with Liverpool, Spurs and Crystal Palace followed along with defeat at Aston Villa as part of just one win in six in the league.
Now, it’s 11 wins in a row since then in all competitions, and 14 unbeaten. Since returning from the Club World Cup, the Blues have won six from six in the Premier League.
If they want to keep up with Liverpool and Arsenal, who had the chance to get points on the board before the Blues today, they cannot afford to give Chelsea as much freedom as they did in London. The three wins and three clean sheets at home against Chelsea last will be a confidence boost, but the job still needs doing and the sight of Mauricio Pochettino on the touchline at the Etihad will inevitably bring nerves.
Ultimately, City are playing the tenth-best team in the league, and must be beating that level of opponent if they want to win the title. It’s set up to be a nervy affair, but one City have to win.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
