Manchester City have made a habit of hitting the accelerator pedal as they come out of the first international break of the season.
In the last two seasons, in which the Blues have won consecutive Premier League titles, they have dropped points in August by drawing a game.
But they have then moved through the gears between the September and October international breaks, winning seven of their eight games in those two seasons.
The only points dropped in that spell were due to the goalless draw at Anfield last season, when Riyad Mahrez’s penalty miss denied them all three points.
Both clubs have difficult away trips in Europe in this next phase of the season, City facing the long trip to Ukraine to face Shakhtar Donetsk, while Liverpool head into the fierce atmosphere of Napoli, so no edge to be gained there.
So what are the chances of City making up the two-point gap which Liverpool have eked out at the start of this campaign?
Sept 14
Liverpool v Newcastle
Norwich vs City
Hard to see anything other than the two-point gap remaining intact, unless Newcastle can reprise their shock win at Tottenham – or Premier League player of the month Teemu Pukki can continue his scoring streak against the Blues.
Sept 21/22
City vs Watford
Chelsea vs Liverpool
City are likely to get an early chance to leapfrog their rivals at the top, as crisis club Watford arrive at the Etihad. Three points would increase the pressure on Liverpool’s trip to Stamford Bridge the following day.
Sept 28
Sheff Utd v Liverpool
Everton vs City
The hardest fixture of City’s next four is the trip to Goodison, although it is not a fixture that causes the trepidation it used to do after two wins from the last two visits. You would expect Liverpool to ease to victory at Bramall Lane.
Oct 6
Liverpool v Leicester
City v Wolves
A snowy pitch and a gutsy Foxes team saw Liverpool drop a couple of points in this fixture last season – and Brendan Rodgers’ team nearly took a draw at the Etihad too. Leicester are tucked in to third position, the only other unbeaten team so far, ad will not be a walkover.
