Blues without a win in last five games
After Manchester City's superb start to the season, many bookmakers had Pep Guardiola's side as odds-on favourites to win the Premier League this season. The Blues won their first ten fixtures in all competitions, including six successive league wins, to record the club's best ever start to a season in its 122 year history.
A victory against Sunderland on the opening day of the season, secured only with a last minute own goal courtesy of Paddy McNair, was followed by wins against Stoke, West Ham, Manchester United, Bournemouth and Swansea.
However, since then City have failed to win any of their last five games, which has seen their odds for winning the league lengthen with most bookmakers. Bet365 have the Blues as 5/4 favourites to win the 2016/17 title, whilst Sky Bet and William Hill have Guardiola's side at slightly longer odds of 11/8.
Guardiola has admitted that he is still learning about English football, and that the intensity and frequency of games has made things difficult in recent weeks.
“Our last few games have been tough. If you are winning a game 3-0 in the last 15 or 20 minutes you can have more control and it gets a little easier.
“But we were playing 10 against 11 against Barcelona, it’s physical and tough in the Champions League. After that there was the game against Southampton, when we made a mistake to go behind.
“Three days after Manchester United it is West Brom, then Barcelona and they are so important as well. I am still learning about football in this country.
“Even when we were winning ten games in a row I felt we had to make a lot of effort to win those games. You cannot win any game here without spending a lot of energy.
“I am still learning how the team reacts to winning and not winning, to playing at home after a Champions League game and I am pretty sure I need time.”
Coral, Paddy Power and Ladbrokes have City at 6/4, whilst Liverpool are 3/1 second favourites with most bookies. Manchester United, meanwhile, have dropped as long as 25/1 outsiders with some bookmakers, following their humiliating 4-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
Odds can vary greatly from one bookmaker to another, however, so it is always advisable to shop around and ensure you follow advice on how to choose the best bookmaker before placing any bets.