Recently, as we do every year, 90min's editorial team compiled our predictions for the 2021/22 Premier League season.
Our consensus table had Manchester City retaining their Premier League title - but that did not tell the whole story. Out of 90min's 12 'experts' only two had anyone other than City finishing first. The two that broke rank opted for Champions League holders Chelsea.
City looked shaky when defending in transition throughout - a problem that has plagued them for some time. Things were not clicking in the final third either. After some early promise, Jack Grealish and Raheem Sterling seemed to be getting in each other's way in the left half-space. Japhet Tanganga's wonderfully violent display further dimmed their influence. Meanwhile, Riyad Mahrez was slowing things to a ponderous crawl on the opposite flank.
While City must remain favourites - they still have Kevin De Bruyne and Oleksandr Zinchenko to return and could yet splash the cash on Kane, who topped the Premier League goal and assist charts last season - Guardiola's charges slipping up so early is a fascinating development.
Perhaps we were wrong. Perhaps we will have a proper title race this season after all.
Source : 90min