Premier League Specials: Manchester City 13/2 to break 100-point record; 14/1 to go unbeaten

After Manchester City extended their perfect start to the Premier League season, we’ve priced up the Citizens at 13/2 to break their own 100-point record and 14/1 to go unbeaten across the 38 games.

It’s been a rather friendly start to the season for the champions, playing two newly promoted sides, and a third side who will likely be at the wrong end of the table come May, with their toughest tests being at home to Newcastle and away to West Ham.

And barring the late drama at Sheffield United earlier this month, City haven’t needed to get anywhere near top gear to take maximum points from their first five games.

bet365’s Steve Freeth said: "Manchester City overcame potential banana skins in the shape of Newcastle and West Ham and they look well placed to continue taking maximum points with a trip to Wolves next up at the end of September.

"October on the other hand could be a tricky month to navigate with trips to Arsenal and Manchester United as well as hosting Brighton, plus they have their toughest looking Champions League group trip to Leipzig to contend with as well as going to Bern to face Young Boys in what is a congested period.

"If they come through that with flying colours then the class of 2017/18 better sit up and take note."

There is, of course, a long way to go before City will have the 100-point mark in their sights, and matching the feat of their 2017/18 side – surely the greatest Premier League side we’ve seen – won’t be easy. City dropped points just six times that season, winning 32 games (Chelsea, the season before, were the first side in Premier League history to reach 30 wins in a season). 

For the first half of the season, it looked like Pep Guardiola’s men could become the second team to go unbeaten after Arsenal in 2004, before heading to Anfield to face a Liverpool side who scored three goals in 10 minutes to end any potential ‘Invincible’ campaign.

The other dropped points were surprise draws at home to Everton and Huddersfield at the beginning and end of the campaign, with Crystal Palace and Burnley taking a point each around the halfway stage, before the memorable Manchester derby, with City needing a win to secure the title against their rivals, only to throw a two-goal lead away.

It gives an idea of the task facing City, but if there’s any season in which City can be looking to hit 100 points again, perhaps this is it.

There are around eight sides who could be relegated without raising any eyebrows, and City dropping points home or away to any of them would be a shock. The likes of Aston Villa and Brighton who can certainly pose a threat both have European football to contend with, while none of the remaining teams in the ‘big seven’ look to be near City’s level.

Tottenham have started the season superbly but the squad still looks thin on the ground; Liverpool are in transition and don’t seem to have the solid defensive base they have throughout Jurgen Klopp's tenure; Arsenal will do well to replicate last season’s efforts, even with the addition of Declan Rice, while Manchester United have gone backwards. Newcastle's usually robust defence is looking more porous, and Chelsea are still finding their feet under Mauricio Pochettino.

Arsenal remain the only team to complete a Premier League season undefeated, while Manchester City are the only team to record 100 points.

It’s not impossible that this is the season City do both.

Manchester City to go unbeaten – 14/1

Manchester City to reach 101 points – 13/2

Liam Williams

• Manchester City F.C.
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