Manchester City have been told only one thing can stop them from winning a third consecutive Premier League title, such has been the way they have started the new season.
City spent Saturday evening top of the Premier League table following their 4-0 defeat of Southampton, two points ahead of second-place Arsenal who play Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
The Blues' seventh victory in nine games continued their unbeaten start to the season, while the goals of Joao Cancelo, Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez and Erling Haaland increased City's goal difference to +24, double that of Arsenal.
Many are touting the current version of Pep Guardiola's City as the best one yet, largely because of the incredible form of striker Haaland. The 22-year-old has now scored 15 goals in his first nine Premier League appearances, the quickest any player has reached that total.
READ MORE: Man City player ratings as Joao Cancelo outstanding vs Southampton
City will of course return to second place in the table should Arsenal beat an out-of-sorts Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium, but Guardiola's side have been told that it won't be Arsenal that stops them lifting the trophy on May 28.
Speaking on Sky Sports, former Liverpool midfielder Graeme Souness claimed that while they are currently City's closest challengers, Arsenal would only be able to pip City to the title if The Blues suffer an injury crisis.
"They will only be challengers if City have an absolute nightmare run with injuries, and I think that applies to everybody else behind City," said Souness.
"People are playing for second place as long as City don't have a disaster with injuries. That's how good they are."
While Arsenal could return to the top of the pile on Sunday, unlike City they have been defeated this season, 3-1 by Manchester United at Old Trafford. City's closest rivals in recent years Liverpool are now 13 points behind City, although Jurgen Klopp's side do have two games in hand.
City will take on Liverpool next weekend at Anfield, but they won't face Arsenal until after the World Cup after their game scheduled for 19th October was postponed due to the rescheduling of Arsenal's Europa League fixture against PSV Eindhoven.
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