When
Manchester City started their defense to the Premier League title with 2 wins
out of 2 against former title contenders Liverpool and a pretty decent
Newcastle side away from home, people were right to raise their eyebrows as
certainly everything was clicking for the reigning Champions. However in a
friend turned enemy in Mark Hughes who probably hadn’t forgot the last day of reception he got from Sheikh Mansour, the Citizens were blushed really badly as
Stoke put to practice the Under-dog strategy of digging deep and going for the
win as a 2nd half goal from Diouf took Manchester City back to
earth.
#454384088 / gettyimages.com
It is the 1st
time since 1980 that Stoke City have defeated Manchester City at the Etihad
stadium.
Manchester City have spent really big in this transfer market as players like Eliaquim Mangala and
a goal-keeper Willy Caballero have come to Etihad, however it was their free signing of summer
in Bacary Sagna who started the game with a multi-million pound man in Fernando
who later subbed of due to injury. While City were really posing threats
outside the box and maybe inside the box as well with their crisp passing and
balls coming in from both flanks, Stoke Goal-keeper Mark Begovic hadn’t had to
make one decent save as Stoker earned their 1st victory against Manchester City
since 1980.
Both
Liverpool and Arsenal, who were un-done by some good opposition last week have
now got themselves a blessing in disguise as the Champions have slipped early.
While Arsenal were undone by Everton, Liverpool were knocked out by a ruthless
Manchester City side.
Both
Arsenal and Liverpool, like the Champions were handed early tough draws in the
Premier League and subsequently in the Champions League as well as both of them
have to face big horses when the Champions League starts. So probably both of
them will feel this is the mistake they definitely have to capitalize if they
are to disturb the Elite class in Premier League.
All Arsenal,
Liverpool and Manchester City have been handed tough groups in the Champions
League this season.
Liverpool
will face Tottenham as the Reds face a side that is yet to drop a single point
this season and have started the Premier League up and running. Mauricio
Pochetino side is looking for a revenge as a 5-0 demolition cracked their
season last term. Liverpool, on the other hand, are looking to put their fears
behind and start a new era with players like Mario Balotelli and Lazar Markovic getting in
the starting 11. So if they could get a win, let alone looking to that 5-0
demolition of last December, they will be pretty happy to get 6 points from the
games in which last season, they earned 3 points.
Arsenal
on the other hand, after putting the Champions League scare against Besiktas
off their path are now looking to be serious in Premier League. If you look at
both the games Gunners have featured in Premier League this season, against
Crystal Palace and Everton, they weren’t off and running rather it was their
merry dance passing and attacking at the very end that kept them aboard. So
when they will face their opposition this Sunday, they will look to start right
from the final whistle with either Lukas Poldolski or Alexis Sanchez leading the command in
the absence of injured Olivier Giroud.
nice post! Gunner lfc clear chance to beat city now!
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