Manchester City should become the first Premier League team to score 100 goals before the end of January when they take on Cardiff at the Etihad today.
They also look certain to beat Chelsea’s record of 103 goals in an Premier League season but will it be enough for them to win the title, as they are also prone to conceding goals?
Andy Gray and Richard Keys, who front beIN Sport’s Premier League coverage, have their say:
Andy Gray: I expected City to score a lot of goals under Manuel Pellegrini because when you look at what he did at Real Madrid his team got more than 100 goals in La Liga and didn’t win the title because they were up against a magnificent Barcelona side.
So, he didn’t really get the credit he deserved during his time at the Bernabeu. He was also an attack-minded coach when he was at Malaga so I am not surprised by what’s happening. It has taken Pellegrini time to understand how to win away from home but he is coming to terms with that now and has learned quickly from the mistakes they made against the likes of Aston Villa and Sunderland.
They have the best squad in the league and they are going to take some stopping but they could still face problems. They could lose key players through injury and playing in four tournaments could take too much out of them.
They would be a little exposed if they lost Vincent Kompany through injury again, so I expect to see Pellegrini try to bring in a new centre-back before the January transfer window closes.
The strike force is obviously the talking point with Sergio Aguero back from injury to join Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko who are currently red hot. Their strike rate will give City huge confidence and is almost worth a 1-0 lead at the Etihad before they kick off.
If you are a player, and I remember this from my playing days at Everton when we were scoring a lot of goals, it means that you always think that even if you go one down in a match it doesn’t matter because you will get two or three yourselves.That is the way Man City’s players will be thinking at the moment.
I expect Cardiff to get well beaten today but if I was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer I would tell my players that yes, City are a great team, but they are not unbeatable.
Look at Crystal Palace who went to the Etihad, played well and were unlucky to lose 1-0. So you never know, but I can see City winning 3-0.
Richard Keys: Strange but true – City went into last weekend having scored just one more goal than they did at the very same stage of the season when they won the title.And, interestingly, they have conceded seven more.
City have been fantastic offensively but they have played teams that were there for the taking and, fair play to them, they have got the job done so I am not trying to demean what they have achieved.
They will definitely score their 100th of the season today but I still don’t think they are the very best team in the league so I wouldn’t get too carried away with it.
I think Pellegrini has got a good group of players but I don’t think , as a manager, he is doing anything a great deal differently to what Roberto Mancini did. Unlike David Moyes, Pellegrini took over a team that was already in good nick and just needed a few tweaks.
I think the goals will dry up when the season gets more intense and when the boys understand they are knocking on the door of another title success and the pressure is really on. Right now they do look terrific and they will beat Cardiff easily. 4-0.
CHELSEA v MAN UNITED
AG: I keep saying this but United are not playing with any great confidence and with no Wayne Rooney or Robin van Persie this is a very tough ask.
Chelsea have got the bit between their teeth and have flashes of brilliance from the likes of Eden Hazard, Willian and Oscar who are getting the goals that win them games. The fact is Chelsea have got better players. 2-0.
RK: United are good enough to get results against the Premier League’s ordinary teams but they are sadly lacking against the likes of Chelsea. 2-1.
SUNDERLAND v SOUTHAMPTON
AG: Sunderland are working their way back with three wins in row in the League Cup, FA Cup and the league. Obviously, it would have been better if it had been three league wins but winning any football match breeds confidence and I think it will show against Southampton.
The departure of chairman Nicola Cortese shouldn’t affect Southampton’s players but I fancy Sunderland at home with Adam Johnson looking more like the player he was at Middlesbrough. 2-1.
RK: I’m going 1-0 Sunderland because of the momentum Gus Poyet has got going and the fact that it has been a strange week for Southampton off the pitch. Sunderland will believe they can now get out of trouble which gives them the edge.
ARSENAL v FULHAM
AG: Olivier Giroud has had a two or three week rest which will help the big man. He looked fresh against Villa last week and with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back and Aaron Ramsey returning soon things are looking good for Arsenal. I don’t expect Fulham to trouble them at all. 3-1.
RK: Fulham will struggle to get anywhere near Arsenal if they start knocking the ball about. Fulham have experienced players but there’s not enough legs in the team and I think the Gunners will pass them off the park. 3-0.
CRYSTAL PALACE v STOKE
AG: I felt a little bit for Stoke against Liverpool last week in what was a great game of football but I am not sure they have enough on the road. Palace lack quality but they have spirit. 1-1.
RK: Palace will win, probably with a Jason Puncheon penalty, because after his horror spot kick against Spurs, things like that happen in football. Stoke are suspect on the road. 1-0 Palace.
NORWICH v HULL CITY
AG: Every week we talk about Norwich being in trouble and at home you would expect them to beat Hull but I like Steve Bruce’s side and I think they will have enough to get a point out of this. 1-1.
RK: I think Hull will win 2-1 on the basis that the boys they have bought in the transfer window, Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long are likely to get off the mark if they play. Norwich lack the consistency required to stay in the Premier League.
WEST HAM v NEWCASTLE
AG: What a massive boost that was for Sam Allardyce last week when they beat Cardiff, a result I certainly didn’t expect. Newcastle have lost the last four, although I thought they were unlucky against Man City when Cheick Tiote’s equaliser should have stood but that won’t help Alan Pardew now. West Ham need to win a game at home and I think they’ll get it. 1-0.
RK: I didn’t expect to see West Ham win at Cardiff so that should give them confidence and they have too many good players to be where they are. Newcastle have the players to win it but they’re on a bad run so 2-0 home win.
LIVERPOOL v ASTON VILLA
AG: I fear for my old club Villa who are now in a serious relegation battle. They beat Liverpool at Anfield last season but I can’t see that happening again. I don’t understand the Grant Holt signing because if he is not good enough for Norwich how can he be good enough for Villa? Liverpool will have too much with Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge back in tandem. 2-0.
RK: Christian Benteke scored last week which ended a run of 14 and a half hours without a goal at a cost to Aston Villa, if he is on £60,000 a week, of £1.02m (Dh6.15m) since his last goal. Now he is up and running who knows, but Liverpool won’t be troubled by this Villa side. 3-1.
SWANSEA v SPURS
AG: Everyone thinks Tim Sherwood has made a huge difference to Spurs since he took over as manager but I don’t see it. I thought they were awful in the first half against Palace last week. This will be a test for Spurs and I think Swansea will cause them some problems. 2-2.
RK: I don’t agree with Andy. I think Spurs are better and different under Tim. They are playing with a lot more freedom but whether they can sustain that I don’t know. Swansea have definitely got a goal in them so I’m going 1-1.
WEST BROM v EVERTON
AG: West Brom will be desperate to give their new coach Pepe Mel a boost of winning his first home game but that is a big ask against an Everton side who have been playing well all season. I can’t see Everton losing this but I think the Baggies can get a point. 1-1.
RK: I don’t know anything about Pepe Mel and I think he is a huge gamble. Everton have found a rhythm and will be too good for the Baggies. 2-1 away win.
