Manchester: Chaos has reigned in the Premier League in December, with an outbreak of Covid-19 destroyed the team, forcing a delay of 17 games and sparked talk about a pause that never materialized.
Manchester City has risen above it all.
Seven-game winning streak.
Lead to eight points.
Line win 10 games.
Such was the dominance of the city suddenly suddenly is one of the rival apparently waving white flags.
“We have seven Covid case, we have five or six players out for six weeks or more,” said Thomas Tuchel, the Chelsea manager second place.
“How do we have to compete in the title race?” While Tuchel grumble about misfortune minutes after seeing Chelsea concede a stoppage time goal to draw 1-1 with Brighton at Stamford Bridge, City – playing only 5 miles (8 kilometers) farther west London -‘re looking at 1-0.
Win Brentford perfect month to complete 21 points.
The TV camera emits a replacement for the city Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez, two players in the form of a team that has been rested and sit alongside each other in the dugout after being told they would not come.
Indeed, the city manager Pep Guardiola does not make a bit of a replacement, after turning the first lineup that contain offensive trio Phil Foden really new, Jack Grealis and Gabriel Jesus.
What luxury.
Especially when several teams have asked for a delay because they were unable to summon the required minimum number of players – 13 plus the goalkeeper.
And it might be the difference.
Force the best and most expensive in the league – run maybe a top coach of the world – have overcome the most good with the period of the season’s most grueling, when fixtures come thick and fast and the English football attract more eyeballs than any Europeans other big league being a winter break.
It was in December of last year City start winner of 21 games in all competitions to lift the team from its central position in the Premier League – though because the team has several games in the first place and leading 15 points.
Fast forward a year and the city is third, five points behind leaders Chelsea, after a 2-0 home loss from Crystal Palace on 30 October.
Ten consecutive wins later, the city is eight points clear of Chelsea and nine in front of third place, 1-0 loss from injury-ravaged Leicester on Tuesday was a belated Christmas gift to Guardiola.
Liverpool have a game in town and Chelsea.
The city also has a great chance to widen the gap as well.
Chelsea and Liverpool meet on Sunday, so one or both teams will definitely drop points.
At that time, the City will play Arsenal.
While Chelsea have a defensive crisis with Ben Chilwell (knee) out for the season and Thiago Silva, Andreas Christensen and Reece James also hurt, Liverpool will lose forward Star – Mohamed Salah (Egypt) and Sadio Mané (Senegal) – to the African Cup of Nations following the Chelsea game.
The city will also be deprived of Mahrez, who will be playing in the tournament for Algeria, but still can boast a wide selection of attack that the club was happy to sanction the sale of Spanish forward Ferran Torres to Barcelona this week to 55 million beginning.
Euro ($ 66 million).
In the middle of the rush that spread to cities labeled as hot favorites for another league title, Guardiola will not go forward.
“We’re on the run was good, but this is the end of December,” he said after the match Brentford.
“There are many games to visit.
We were eight points ahead but there are 54 to play for and a lot of tough games still to play.” I would not trust anyone who says it’s been done.
The team that we have with the (US) – Chelsea and Liverpool – more than outstanding.
“The town has managed to avoid influenced by too many cases Covid-19 among its staff, at least publicly.
The team even had a schedule fixture at his side, after playing away to Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham and Leicester in the league this season.
Towards January , the champion has done the hard yards, sixth league title in 11 seasons already visible.