Manchester City’s perfect start offers no guarantee of Premier League title
Manchester City are the only team to have won all five of their opening Premier League matches, giving them a three-point lead over champions Arsenal as they begin life after Pep Guardiola. But historical records suggest a perfect start offers no guarantee of the title: teams need to keep winning, and City’s early form will be tested against stronger opposition.
Only four of the 14 previous sides to win their first five Premier League games went on to become champions, and each extended its winning run beyond five matches. City have done it once before, in 2023-24, but failed to turn similar starts into titles in 2015-16 and 2016-17; their current fixtures have also been among the league’s easiest so far. Their next test is a visit to Liverpool, while concerns about their defending and the unresolved financial fair play case provide further context.
- City have won their first five league matches and lead Arsenal by three points.
- Only four of 14 previous teams with the same start won the title.
- Their easier opening fixtures and upcoming Liverpool match will test their form.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “How important is a fast start for teams chasing the Premier League title?”.