When can Manchester City win the Premier League title?

Manchester City’s memorable 4-1 win over Premier League title rivals Arsenal saw momentum swing firmly in Pep Guardiola’s favour at the expense of Mikel Arteta’s Gunners.

Arteta admitted his players would have to be ‘perfect’ to secure a win over his previous employers prior to the clash but a Kevin De Bruyne masterclass means City are now in the driving seat for the title.

Arsenal have spent 93% of this season at the league’s summit and may still hope to take advantage of City’s involvement in the Champions League, with two semi final legs against Real Madrid still to come.

Here are the key dates when City could lift their third straight Premier League title.

14 May – Everton (A)

Mathematically, a trip to Merseyside is the earliest point where Guardiola can lead his side to three domestic titles on the bounce.

This would, however, have to account for Arsenal slipping up along the way and City continuing as the formidable force we have seen of late.

Though the majority of the Toffees’ season has been substandard again, their record against both City and Arsenal is commendable; they secured all three points against Arsenal in Sean Dyche’s first game in charge and held City to a 1-1 draw last time they two met. City led for the majority of the match but Demarai Gray’s equaliser saw the spoils shared with 11 minutes of added time not enough for either side to clinch victory.

Should City win all of their games by this point in time and Arsenal only reply with with draws against the likes of Newcastle and Brighton, City would be able to claim early champion status.

Don’t let their league position fool you; Chelsea are more than capable of stunning the title chasers as proven by their Kai Havertz-inspired win over City in the 2021 Champions League final. However, the Blues have been hapless at both ends of the pitch in recent weeks while City have motored into title-winning form.

Another win at the Etihad Stadium would sit comfortably with the home outfit and further boost their chances of winning their third consecutive title, something only achieved by Manchester United, who have managed it twice.

One of City’s two games in hand on Arsenal comes when they take on Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton in midweek on the south coast while the Gunners watch on nervously from home.

If both title-competing sides win their remaining games, City can pip Arsenal to glory against Brighton and will still have an away fixture against bogey team Brentford to fulfil on the final day.

This date will also be red-ringed in the diary for the north London folk as it’s possible they can secure their first title since 2004 with a win against Brighton four days earlier should results go their way during the run-in.

City will be solely focused on their own game, with Brighton eager to finish the season strongly and secure a spot in Europe.

Thomas Frank’s side have the potential to ruin the City parade on the final day of the season and proved earlier in the season they are capable of turning over the reigning champions.

An Ivan Toney brace – one being a 97th-minute winner – in November dampened City’s mood as the Saturday lunchtime contest ended in favour of the London side.

Manchester City’s remaining 2022/23 fixtures