Quick update on Week 21 of the Premier League. We have been discussing the amazing run of Manchester City all year. Thru 20 matches they were 19 wins and 1 draw. They had an 18 match winning streak and were on 58 points, a record setting pace for points in a season and also with a 14 point lead just past the midway point of the season, also a record lead. So what happened today? They were playing the 17th place team in the league, Crystal Palace. Top team on a record pace against the 17th placed team, just barely above the relegation zone. A blowout right, 3-0 or 4-0 would be the expected result in a game like this.
But hey, this is the Premier League…anything is possible.
Pretty amazing really, the 17th placed team ties the best, and probably should have won. Premier League is really hard….have I said that before. As well, some seasons you just get the feeling things are destined. Manchester City just continues to find ways to win and in late games when they are at risk, have found ways to get a late goal. Today, it was the PK save to keep their unbeaten streak alive. Luka Milivojevic, the Crystal Palace player who took the penalty, had never missed a penalty as a CP player, 5 for 5 over his career with Palace. Automatic…right…wrong. It was a really awful attempt, kicked it low and right at Edison, the MC keeper. Really no chance to score. The PK was a bit soft so maybe fair he missed it.
There was some bad news for Manchester City coming out of the game. In a perfect season so far, they now will face a bit of adversity to keep their record point total and remain undefeated. Two key injuries. Their most effective striker this year, Gabriel Jesus, and their best midfielder and maybe the best midfielder in the Premier League, Kevin DeBruyne, both went out of the game with injuries. Jesus with what appears to be a leg or knee injury. DeBruyne was blown up late in the game and unclear the status of his injury. He was stretchered off, so could be serious. Man City are deep and have quality players to drop in like Sergio Aguero so likely they don’t miss a beat…but…this is the Premier League. Maybe a loss is on the way. I’ll be watching!
Manchester City is now 19-0-2 after 21 weeks.
Here are a few other record setting seasons they are chasing.
Chelsea 2004/2005. 29-8-1 for 95 points. Only 1 loss on the entire season. 95 points is the current points record in Premier League. The team went on to have 49 matches without a loss into the next year. One of the top teams in Premier League history.
Arsenal 2003/2004. 26-0-12 for 90 points. The only team to go undefeated in League play in Premier league history.
Chelsea 2016/2017. 30-3-5 for 93 points. Most wins in a Premier League season at 30.
Manchester City has the opportunity write their name into the record books in 2017/2018.
Week 22 starts Monday.