Man City know what needs to improve after Arsenal and Liverpool FC provide Christmas boost

Manchester City are riding high as World Champions, and their Premier League rivals combined to provide them with an extra Christmas present over the weekend.

First, Aston Villa missed the chance to spend Christmas at the top of the table with a draw against Sheffield United, before Liverpool and Arsenal shared the points at Anfield to leave City six points adrift with a game in hand. To be top or bottom at Christmas is often an indicator of what will happen at the end of the season, but City know more than most how faulty that logic is.

They have only been top twice at Christmas in their last five title-winning seasons, and only two of the last five champions have had their turkey dinner sitting in first place.

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Even City's lowly position of fifth isn't too much of a concern. They haven't finished a gameweek in fifth since September 2021, when they started the campaign a week later than their rivals. But the season before they were as low as eighth on Christmas Day, eight points behind leaders Liverpool.

City were one game into a 15-game winning run that saw them canter to the title, while Liverpool finished third. This season, City have fewer places and fewer points to regain over top spot, and this weekend's fixtures are a useful reminder that it's a closer title race than ever before.

City lost to Arsenal and Villa by single, late, deflected goals, and drew with Liverpool this season. Arsenal and Liverpool drew, while Villa beat Arsenal 1-0. City drew with Spurs, who drew with Arsenal, beat Liverpool 2-1 and were