Manchester City has become the Golden State Warriors of the Premier League, in both titles and betting odds. The Citizens have won three titles in seven years, including last year. The season begins on Aug. 10.
The club had the highest point total in league history, finishing last season with a 32-4-2 record and 100 points. Manchester United was a distant second with 81 points.
Man City Manager Pep Guardiola was humble about the achievement, but his contemporaries were quick to praise the team’s performance last season. New Chelsea Manager Maurizio Sarri told the Independent that no one should be surprised at Guardiola and his team.
“I think that getting 100 points in the Premier League is an extraordinary feat,” Sarri said. “Something that cannot be repeated. We are talking about a genius.”
Oddsmakers have recognized that brilliance and the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook has the team as the 4/7 favorites to repeat at Premier League Champions. That is lower from May’s opening odds of 5/8. Liverpool is next at 5/1, followed by Manchester United at 6/1, Chelsea at 10/1, and Tottenham at 12/1. All of those odds have remained unchanged since May.
Rich Get Richer
If it is possible Manchester City could have gotten better than last year’s dominating squad. The club spent $69.6 million to get 27-year-old Riyad Mahrez from Leicester. It is the most money Manchester City has spent on a player.
Former Man City player Craig Bellamy told the Daily Star that Mahrez will provide another scoring option to a team already full of offensive stars.
“I know it’s difficult obviously because of the money that they’ve spent but it was going to take that type of money to get him out of there,” Bellamy said. “These players, attacking-wise, are costing that kind of money now. He just adds another dimension to what is already a fierce attack.”
Bellamy added that he believes Guardiola will make Mahrez a better player.
“I’m interested to see how he improves Mahrez,” Bellamy said. “The best thing with Guardiola, he improves players, he makes them better. “Can he get Mahrez another level again? And if he can, that’s exciting for Man City.”
Don’t Hand Title To Manchester City Just Yet
Though Manchester City is an overwhelming favorite, other organizations spent the summer improving their teams, and could give the Citizens competition for the top spot.
The first would be Liverpool. The second choice by oddsmakers made the biggest splash when the paid Roma $77.7 million for goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
It is the highest amount spent for a goalie. Juventus paid $61.5 million to Parma for Gianluigi Buffon in 2001. It shatters the Premier League record for a goalie. The previous mark was $46.4 million by Manchester City, who paid Benfica for Ederson Santana de Moraes in June 2017.
Another team looking to improve is Chelsea. Their biggest upgrade was with their manager. Sarri’s first order of business was reassuring fans that one of their top players isn’t going to Real Madrid. Eden Hazard has been linked with the Spanish League team, but Sarri told reporters that he wants the Belgian native to stay.
“I would like to have fun during the week with him, this would mean good results and being competitive at the end of the season,” Sarri said. “I hope I will manage to improve him, this is very difficult as he is at a high level.”