In the 32 years since the Premier League was launched the two Manchester Clubs have reigned supreme, winning 21 of the league titles between them and leaving just 11 for the rest.
But the balance of power is shifting and both clubs face serious problems. In the case of 13 times winners Manchester United, Ruben Amorin is the latest manager to try to step out of the shadows of the great Alex Ferguson but his club still needs a shake-up from the top to the bottom. The Red Devils currently sit in 13th place and 14 points behind the Champions League places but there are problems too across the road where Manchester City are fifth and, according to the latest Premier League 2025 betting odds here at SBOTOP, all but out of the title race.
The Sky Blues won their eighth Premier League title last May and their fourth on the bounce, but an aging squad, crucial injuries and financial distractions off the pitch haven’t helped Pep Guardiola’s title defence; and it seems the club’s destiny relating to potential sanctions is looming larger. Of all the Premier League 2025 results last week, the standout was Arsenal’s 5-1 destruction of Manchester City and the Sky Blues made hard work of beating third tier Leyton Orient in the FA Cup on Saturday. Next up they face Real Madrid in a Champions League play-off and Guardiola will be seeking revenge, after his side was beaten by Los Blancos last season.
This weekend Guardiola said the club expects to learn the outcome of the investigation, into 115 charges surrounding the battle over sponsorship limits, within the month, and lawyers for both the club and the Premier League are working around the clock, with legal fees stacking up to eye-watering levels. If they lose the case City could face a huge points deduction or even relegation, but Guardiola has pledged his future to the club in any event. It would be some spectacle to see the Sky Blues spend a season in the Championship, while possibly playing in the Champions League.
That may seem fanciful but the City boss has certainly been planning for the future with the club’s biggest transfer spending in January for years. The Sky Blues brought in Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov for a cool £170m before the deadline last Monday.
With the Premier League almost certainly out of reach, Liverpool are 15 points ahead of Manchester City with a game in hand, Guardiola is looking elsewhere for silverware with the FA Cup and Champions League on his agenda. With Tuesdays’ clash against Los Blancos firmly in mind the City boss rested Erling Haaland, Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic for the trip to Orient, with Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne on the bench and they are sure to line up for this huge first leg against Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, over at Old Trafford, Manchester United stumbled through their FA Cup fourth round tie against Leicester City, thanks to a controversial injury time goal from Harry Maguire… but manager Ruben Amorin will take anything he can at the moment. One of his biggest tasks since his arrival in Manchester has been to gel a team willing to fight for the cause and the departure of Marcus Rashford to Aston Villa is one move which may help to his squad to start pulling in the same direction. Aston Villa’s January recruitment spree, bringing in Rashford as well as Marco Asensio, has certainly caught the media’s attention and the Villains are hoping to prosper in the Champions League and the Premier League. But the Red Devils aims are more modest; a top ten finish and a Europa League win would be a triumph for the new man. But when he looks at the club’s fixture list over the next month he’ll know how vital the next four fixtures are. And they are not easy.
Next week Manchester United are away to another chronic underperformer, Tottenham Hotpsur, currently in 14th and two points behind the Red Devils. Head coach Ange Postecoglou is under pressure but his team ended a losing streak with a win over Brentford last week. Then Amorin takes his team to Goodison Park to meet Everton, now managed by former Manchester United head coach David Moyes. Under the experienced Scot the Toffees have won their last three league games and are just three points behind United and with a game in hand.
Next up United host Ipswich Town who are fighting for their lives and that is a must-win game for the Red Devils because the following week they host title facing Arsenal. With third placed Nottingham Forest and Manchester City to follow quickly Amorin has rightly said his team is in a fight. And one of his biggest problems is the lack of bite up front, with or without Rashford. The last time United scored a goal in open play at home was way back on December 7th in a loss to Nottingham Forest. So the boss may be relieved to see four of the next six league games are away from Old Trafford…and that would have been unthinkable in the reign of Ferguson. `
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
