Manchester City will look to extend their flawless Premier League record when Ipswich Town visit the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, although the unresolved fallout from the club’s financial-rule case remains a major cloud over the table-toppers.
Key takeaways
- City have taken maximum points from their first six league fixtures and lead Arsenal by three points.
- An independent panel upheld 114 of 115 Premier League allegations against City, who have appealed and maintain their innocence.
- Arsenal travel to Nottingham Forest on Sunday, while Liverpool face Brentford a day earlier.
- Manchester United head to Leeds United after their poorest six-match start in four decades.
- Fulham, Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur are all yet to record a league win.
City’s strong start amid financial-case uncertainty
Enzo Maresca’s team have begun the campaign in outstanding fashion, winning all six of their domestic matches to establish a three-point advantage over Arsenal. Their position away from the pitch, however, is still awaiting clarity.
City were found responsible for 114 of the 115 charges levelled by the Premier League after an independent commission completed its review. The club have rejected any suggestion of wrongdoing and have submitted an appeal.
That unusual situation has not stopped City from producing impressive results in England. They demonstrated their authority last weekend by beating Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield, with the hosts reduced to 10 men.
City did suffer a 4-2 home loss to reigning Champions League winners Paris St Germain on Wednesday, but they now return to league action against an Ipswich side placed 10th with nine points.
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville believes the wait for a final decision on City’s punishment has caused resentment across the competition. He said supporters are watching City continue to win without knowing what weight those results may eventually carry if sanctions are imposed.
“This is really damaging for the Premier League and it will go on for several more months,” Neville said on Sky Sports. “There is a great deal of irritation around the country when people watch this team win matches, because it becomes difficult to enjoy it.”
Arsenal, the champions, know they can afford few mistakes if they are to remain in contention with City. The London club strengthened their confidence with a 3-0 Champions League victory over Lille on Tuesday.
Second-placed Arsenal have 15 points and go to Nottingham Forest on Sunday aware that a dropped result could allow City to build an early and potentially sizeable lead. Forest are 15th after collecting five points.
Liverpool seek domestic lift as United visit Leeds
Liverpool travel to Brentford on Saturday with a surge of confidence from their remarkable 6-3 Champions League win away to LASK on Wednesday.
Bradley Barcola was the standout performer in Austria, scoring a hat-trick to register his first Liverpool goals. The French attacker had failed to find the net in each of his first six outings for the club.
The 24-year-old, whose difficult opening spell had attracted growing attention, scored twice in the opening half before completing his three-goal display after the interval. Liverpool consequently made it two wins from two in the Champions League.
For Barcola, it was an important release, while Liverpool also delivered the response they needed following their heavy home defeat to City four days earlier.
The Reds have been less persuasive in the Premier League, where they occupy ninth place on nine points. Brentford sit fourth, one point better off, and Saturday’s contest could offer a more meaningful indication of whether Liverpool’s nine-goal European display has truly changed their direction.
Manchester United face an even more pressing situation as they make the short journey to Elland Road for Sunday’s meeting with Leeds United, needing a result to revive a campaign that has quickly gone off course.
Michael Carrick’s side have earned only six points from six games, leaving them 13th and already 12 points behind City. It represents United’s worst opening to a season for 40 years.
United were beaten 2-0 by Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, and their next challenge comes against historic rivals Leeds. Leeds have made the more encouraging league start, sitting seventh with nine points.
Three clubs remain without a first victory this season. Bottom-of-the-table Fulham host Hull City on Saturday, Bournemouth welcome Sunderland on Sunday, and Tottenham Hotspur entertain Coventry City on Monday.
With City attempting to block out the debate over their financial case, Arsenal trying to remain within reach, and Liverpool and United searching for momentum, the weekend’s fixtures will provide another measure of how the established powers are handling the early season.
