Manchester City have kicked off their Premier League campaign with a perfect record, securing five victories in a row. This strong start, their first season after Pep Guardiola, sees them three points clear of reigning champions Arsenal.
Despite this impressive beginning, history indicates that a rapid start does not guarantee the Premier League title. City have previously won their opening five games on three occasions, but only secured the league title once in those seasons (2023-24).
Across the Premier League, only four of the 14 teams that have won their first five matches have gone on to lift the trophy. These include Manchester City in 2023-24, Liverpool in 2019-20, and Chelsea in 2009-10 and 2005-06.
Furthermore, none of the previous seven clubs to start a Premier League season with exactly five wins have gone on to win the title in that campaign. City's early fixtures have also been relatively easy, according to Opta Power Rankings, with their opponents having an average rating of 91.2, second only to Liverpool's easier start.
City's defensive qualities have also raised questions about the sustainability of their winning run. Their next test will be an away match against Liverpool, who remain unbeaten under new manager Andoni Iraola.