Manchester City will have the biggest target on their backs starting on August 6 when the 2022/23 season starts earlier than expected since they’ll be aiming for their fifth Premier League crown in the last six seasons.
The initial Premier League 2022 odds have the Sky Blues as the favourites to successfully defend their crown anew, so in essence, the title is theirs to lose.
Of course they will face some challenges along the way, but they have the necessary tools to overcome them since they’re such a well-run organization with Pep Guardiola at the helm.
Join us today as we discuss the club’s outlook and why the 2022/23 season is there for the taking for Manchester City.
Money well spent for Manchester City
The Sky Blues were indeed the best side in the 2021/22 campaign, and what’s scary for the rest of the competition is that they just got a whole lot better.
Since the Abu Dhabi takeover in 2008, Manchester City were always willing to use their check books to spend for top players. That is still the case this year – albeit via bargains given their respective market values – as they’ve brought in Erling Haaland (£51.2-M), Kalvin Phillips (£45-M), and Julian Alvarez (£14-M) last January.
Haaland and Alvarez will shore up their attacking front following the departures of Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus – who they sold for £55-M and £45-M respectively – while Phillips adds much-needed depth and quality in the midfield following Fernandinho’s departure.
Moreover, Rodri has committed his future with City as he penned a new five-year deal fresh from his best scoring season with the club, netting seven goals. The Spaniard has been pivotal for the Sky Blues since his 2019 arrival from Atletico Madrid and he’ll form a fantastic partnership with Phillips.
Despite their recent moves, it appears that Manchester City aren’t done just yet as they’re on the lookout for another top defender. The Premier League 2022 updates claim that the Sky Blues are keeping tabs on Josko Gvardiol, especially with Nathan Ake linked to a move to Chelsea.
Gvardiol is touted as one of the most promising defenders in Europe at the age of 20 and he has been a vital cog for both RB Leipzig and the Croatian national team.
Manchester City have the luxury to spend big since they have the capital. But to their credit, they’ve been mindful with their business as most of their investments have paid off one way or another.
Liverpool and Chelsea are some of their biggest roadblocks
So who are the biggest threats to end City’s Premier League dominance? In our list here at SBOTOP, we point to Liverpool and Chelsea as their top challengers, while Tottenham, Arsenal, and Manchester United are the dark horses.
Following the departure of Sadio Mane, Liverpool have recouped by adding Darwin Nunez to Anfield for a fee of £85-M to form a new front combo with January signing Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, and Ballon D’Or candidate Mohamed Salah – who recently signed a three-year extension to end any speculation surrounding his future with the Reds.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are bringing in Raheem Sterling and they’re inching closer to an agreement with Napoli centre-back and skipper Kalidou Koulibaly to beef up their backline.
North London rivals Tottenham and Arsenal have also brought in key reinforcements to give themselves a boost, and finishing in the top four is considered bare minimum for them.
Derby rivals Manchester United may be lagging in this transfer window, but the Erik ten Hag era is off to an auspicious start after they defeated Liverpool 4-0 in their Thailand tour last night.
Champions League or bust for the Sky Blues
In many ways, Manchester City are often compared to PSG given their striking similarities.
Both of these big-time clubs have dominated their respective domestic leagues in these past few years and are heavily funded by oil money, but neither are held to the highest regard by football purists given their lack of Champions League trophies.
The Sky Blues are already accustomed to Champions League heartache. The closest they have come is last year when they reached the final, only to lose 1-0 to Chelsea. And then few months ago, they lost in stunning fashion to eventual champs Real Madrid during the semi-finals. For all the Premier League trophies Manchester City have won – and they can have another one this upcoming season – they would gladly exchange all of them for that elusive Champions League silverware in a heartbeat.
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