Welcome to Action Network's Premier League team previews, where our soccer experts will break down each and every Premier League team ahead of the season, which starts on August 11. It's time to break down the reigning champion, Manchester City.
Premier League Season Preview – Manchester City
What more can you say about Manchester City? They were clear and away the best team in the world and put all of the metrics that solidified them as one of the best teams in history. The question coming into this season is will there be a hangover effect? H0w motivated are they to go with the treble again?
City did have a few key players like İlkay Gündoğan and Riyad Mahrez leave the club, but they signed Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea as a solid replacement and then once against broke the bank to sign the best young center back in the world in Joško Gvardiol from RB Leipzig, even further solidifying the best defense in the world.
What makes City so difficult to play against is the fact that Pep Guardiola was essentially playing five center backs on the pitch at once who were all world class ball carriers and passers. They would line up in a 3-2-4-1 with John Stones playing in the midfield alongside Rodri giving, Manchester City ultimate game control and defensive cover for teams that wanted to try and play in transition against them.
Then of course City have the best striker in the world in Erling Haaland, who bagged 38 goals at just 22 years old and really transformed Manchester City into the best offense in the world. The Cityzens averaged 2.07 xG per 90 minutes in the most difficult league in the world and there will be no drop off in production with almost all of their attackers coming back.
Team Breakdown
The betting market is quite boring when it comes to Manchester City. Even though they are the best team in the world, there is no value on betting them at a minus number and their odds for top four are way out of range as well.
If you are someone like me that truly believes Arsenal have closed the gap on Manchester City after all of their signings in the summer and there will be a hangover from Manchester City, there is value in betting the exact finishing order of Arsenal first and Manchester City second at +1200.
Pick: Dual Forecast: Arsenal/Manchester City (+1200 via bet365)
