Man City will return to their familiar Premier League role in Everton fixture

It was only a matter of weeks ago that the Premier League title race had been dead and buried and the culprit was all too predictable.

It really isn't fair that you have to be absolutely perfect to have a hope of competing with Manchester City, it was said, after rivals Liverpool and Chelsea had produced a month's worth of results that were mid-table at best to leave City well ahead.

Boring title race, boring winners blah blah blah...

Yet lo and behold, here come Liverpool like a gallant knight to reignite the hopes of a trophy tussle by taking advantage of not one, but two slip-ups by the defending champions.

At the Etihad, one of the iconic Grand Theft Auto memes plays on loop as the same people that were dismissing City as too good a short time ago are now salivating at the idea that they may drop more points: Here We Go Again.

City's success has never sat well with their rivals (although, to an extent, should any team be happy with their opponents besting them?) and Pep Guardiola and his players have been used to this ever since they were a few months into their Centurions season.

The more trophies they rack up in English football, no amount of superstars or goal hauls will make them the good guys of English football in the eyes of those who don't like them winning.

Fortunately, this means that the Blues are absolutely used to their role in the title race.

They may have more supporters than usual this season — as in 2018/19 — because of the widespread dislike for Liverpool but they are still represent the big, bad boss at the end of a video game whose toppling will be celebrated.

With Liverpool in Carabao Cup action this weekend, there will be plenty hoping that City don't use their game at Goodison Park to