Manchester City’s dominance in the Premier League is unmatched in the 136-year history of England’s top division.
The club, owned by Abu Dhabi, is aiming for a record-extending fifth consecutive title under Pep Guardiola and his star-studded team when the season begins on Friday.
The world may soon find out if this success comes with a drawback. A lot is at stake for City as they face what could be a challenging year, no matter what happens on the field.
Will City be able to fend off Arsenal for a third season in a row and perhaps also a Liverpool team now under a new coach after Jürgen Klopp?
Is this season going to be Guardiola’s last? His current contract ends at the season’s close, and he is unsure whether to sign a new one.
Could this also be the final year for Kevin De Bruyne, the key playmaker who has been a major force in the Premier League for almost ten years?
Perhaps the biggest question is whether City will face consequences after being hit with 115 charges for allegedly breaking the Premier League’s financial rules, which could be one of the biggest scandals in English soccer history.
The long-awaited hearing is expected to take place in late autumn, nearly two years after the charges were first made. If found guilty, City could face penalties such as point deductions or even expulsion from the Premier League.
City denies any wrongdoing, and the case is complex and sensitive due to its political implications for relations between Britain and the UAE.
Despite these issues, City has continued to win, with their fourth consecutive title coming in May, surpassing the three-in-a-row titles achieved by Huddersfield in the 1920s, Arsenal in the 1930s, Liverpool in the 1980s, and Manchester United twice during Alex Ferguson’s tenure.
How long this winning streak lasts will depend largely on Guardiola, who is entering his ninth season with the club and has said he might extend his contract.
“When we arrive at the competition, my energy rises again,” he said. “I’m fully excited for this season because I’m seeing things that I like. It’s a new challenge to break our own records … now we’ll see the ambition of ourselves.”
Guardiola’s presence will always give City an advantage over its competitors, even though Arsenal looks ready to end its long wait for a league title, which dates back to 2004.
Arsenal has been City’s biggest competitor in the past two years — the title race last season went to the final day — and they are expected to be a strong contender again this season in Mikel Arteta’s fifth year as manager.
“We have to continue to do all the right things that we are doing and just make those small margins that are going to be able to win the tournaments,” Arteta said.
Liverpool is starting a new era with Arne Slot, who is replacing Klopp. This brings an element of uncertainty and likely a change in playing style, moving from a high-energy approach to a more possession-focused style.
“Now we want to have all the ball and completely kill a team,” Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones said in preseason.
Slot, who comes from Feyenoord in the Dutch league, is one of five new managers in the Premier League this season, including Enzo Maresca at Chelsea, Fabian Hurzeler at Brighton, Julen Lopetegui at West Ham, and Steve Cooper at Leicester.
Erik ten Hag remains in charge at Manchester United, which is a surprising decision given the club’s current changes in leadership. The club might need more time to turn things around and become a title contender again. The league season starts at Old Trafford on Friday with United hosting Fulham.
Chelsea is also undergoing major changes, with a new coach and eight new players added to the squad — none of whom are blockbuster signings. The squad now looks very different from two years ago, following an unprecedented spending spree by its American owners.
