The title race will be fought for from several directions, according to Pep Guardiola – who has said Manchester United and Chelsea might still be in the running.
His words, “I never said Tottenham are not there,” he told a pre-match news conference.
“I never put out [of the race] all five or six teams and United is making this run of victories every single week. They will be there to fight for the Premier League.
“We see the table and see the first two or three and say, ‘they are able to be champions’ and we don’t look further than that. If Chelsea win games in a row they will be a contender too to win the Premier League.
“Everybody is there. The gap is not too big. With 39 points to play for, nine or 10 points behind is not too much. Seeing the Premier League now, everybody is ready to take points.”
“I would say it is typical in England, this type of situation. What is not common is what happened last season – a team with 100 points and a lot of distance, 18 games winning,” Guardiola said.
“Normal is what happens now. Every game is tough. You can win and lose every single game.
“Everybody is involved for all the chances to win all the titles, [qualify for] Europe, trying to stay in the Premier League.”
Support InfoStride News' Credible Journalism: Only credible journalism can guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent society, including democracy and government. It involves a lot of efforts and money. We need your support. Click here to Donate