Manchester City have jumped above Liverpool as Premier League title favourites following their 1-0 win over Arsenal on Saturday.
Ahead of the weekend’s action, Pep Guardiola’s side were at 6/4 to reclaim the league title with William Hill, behind 5/4 favourites Liverpool.
However, a 2-2 Merseyside derby draw with Everton for the Reds, in which Jurgen Klopp lost star defender Virgil van Dijk to an ACL injury, coupled with the Citizens prevailing over Arsenal has bumped them up to 4/5, while Liverpool have drifted to 5/2.
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Liverpool have maintained the best defensive record in the Premier League across the last two seasons combined, allowing just 22 goals in 2018/19 and 33 last season en route to ending their 30-year title wait. But the loss of Van Dijk, who was withdrawn after just five minutes against Everton following a dangerous challenge from Jordan Pickford, could prove extremely damaging to the Reds.
“Liverpool FC can confirm Virgil van Dijk will undergo surgery on the knee injury he sustained during Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Everton,” read an official club statement posted by Liverpool on Sunday.
“The centre-back damaged knee ligaments following an incident involving Blues goalkeeper Jordan Pickford after six minutes at Goodison Park.
“Van Dijk was required to be substituted and further assessment on the injury has revealed an operation will be needed. No specific timescale is being placed upon his return to action at this stage.
“Following surgery, Van Dijk will begin a rehabilitation programme with the club’s medical team to enable him to reach full fitness as soon as possible.”
Despite being ninth, six points adrift of leaders Everton, it is Manchester City who now occupy the title favourites mantle after putting in a dominant display against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.
The hosts controlled 59% possession and recorded a 1.55 Expected Goals on Target compared to Arsenal’s 0.34, and although the Gunners put in a spirited performance, it could be argued the 1-0 scoreline flattered them.
“Listen, to get a win here everything has to go your way and you have to be so clinical and I think that was lacking today,” Arteta said after the match.
Liverpool and Arsenal have an advantage, according to Guardiola
City can move level with Liverpool on 10 points if they win their game in hand and, having gone unbeaten in three games across all competitions since their damaging 5-2 home loss to Leicester City, seem to be building some momentum.
Even so, after Saturday’s match Guardiola insisted the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal still have an advantage over his side thanks to their extra preparation time in pre-season and comparative lack of injuries; City have had to deal with the absences of Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus this season, while the likes of Aymeric Laporte, Kevin De Bruyne and Benjamin Mendy are also out.
“Winning games helps to win games,” Guardiola told reporters. “We started really well against Wolves, we had a big blow against Leicester when we gave away three penalties after starting so well and at Leeds, we played a good 30 minutes, the last 10-15 as well but we are still not there, we have not played 90 really well.
“We didn’t have preparation, Liverpool and Arsenal started three weeks before us.
“With the position we have, it is important to win games. Now [Aymeric] Laporte is out again, [Benjamin] Mendy again, Kevin [De Bruyne] again. We cannot be 90 minutes in the top level but we did it.”
City now face a run of six games in 17 days, including trips to Porto and Marseille in the Champions League. That run begins away at West Ham and culminates in a home clash with Liverpool on November 7th.
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