MANCHESTER CITY and Liverpool are separated by just ONE point over the last four seasons.
But their so-called ‘Big Six’ rivals are well behind – more than 70 adrift.
Manchester City and Liverpool will continue their pulsating rivalry on Sunday Credit: Getty
And it is that gulf that epitomises just how dominant the two teams have been in recent years.
Since the beginning of the 2018-19 season to now, City have collected a whopping 338 points from 144 matches – at 2.347 points per game.
That includes 98 in 2018-19 to pip Liverpool to the title by one point, 81 the year after, 86 last term as they walked to the title and 73 from 30 matches so far this term.
Before this comparison, lest we forget, City’s Centurions managed a record-breaking 100 points in the 2017-18 campaign.
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Man Utd draw up three-man list with Phillips top target for midfield overhaul Pep Guardiola’s side sit top of the Premier League table right now but are just one point ahead of Jurgen Klopp’s Reds going into their mouth-watering clash at the Etihad on Sunday.
The way these two are going – and if the 2018-19 run-in is anything to go by – it may well be winner takes all in the title race.
Liverpool managed an almighty 97 points in 2018-19, the fourth-highest tally in the league’s history, but it was still only good enough for second.
The following year they were even stronger with a 99-point haul securing their maiden Premier League crown – but last season struggled to keep pace, finishing third on 69.
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They have already eclipsed that total this term and sit on 72 from 30.
That takes Liverpool’s total to 337 points – or just behind City on 2.340 points per game – from an available 432.
Third on the list over the course of the last four seasons is Chelsea.
Their tallies of 72, 66, 67 and 59 so far this term equates to 264 points.
That is just seven more than Manchester United whose 257 points come from totals of 66, 66, 74 and 51 over the same period.
Then a further 11 points back, it is Tottenham who can claim the bragging rights over Arsenal for now.
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Spurs have managed 71, 59, 62 and 54 points to collect 246 with Arsenal just behind on 241 from 70, 56, 61 and 54.
This relentless spell from Guardiola and Klopp shows no sign of slowing down, either.
This May, the Premier League will end up either at Anfield or the Etihad for the fifth year in a row – it would be the fourth time in five years City have come out on top.
And it leaves the chasing pack battling it out for the prize of best of the rest – two Champions League spots and, for some, the bragging rights as London’s top club.
Chelsea, winners in 2015 and 2017, look on course for finishing third this season – but do have the comfort of a gold badge on their shirts for being crowned world champions.
As for United, Arsenal and Spurs, the three are still slugging it out for that final spot at Europe’s top table with the others fighting Wolves and West Ham for Europa League or Conference League spots with their hopes of a trophy over for another year.
Speaking of trophies, City and Liverpool have enjoyed some success in the cups over recent years, too.
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Russia’s ‘chilling order to wipe out civilians in horrifying radio message’ The Reds ended City’s four-year Carabao Cup reign this year while in 2018-19, Guardiola won the FA Cup and Klopp lifted the Champions League.
And with their title showdown and an FA Cup semi-final in the next week, plus a possible Champions League final in May, this pulsating rivalry is only getting better and fiercer.
Chelsea and Manchester United’s dominant spell at the top has passed Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is desperate to pip Tottenham into fourth Credit: Getty Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
