Manchester City are kicking off their Premier League campaign next month in the unfamiliar position of being third favourites
For the first time since 2020, Manchester City are not starting a Premier League campaign as champions. And in what feels like the first time in forever, they are not starting it as favourites to be champions.
Liverpool take top spot with most bookies and Pep Guardiola's side are not even seen as having the second-best chance with Arsenal edging ahead of them instead. Obviously, those predictions aren't always right but it is a good indicator of where the experts - and fans who place money on the winners before the season has started - expect the title to go next May.
In the regular debate about whether City have found again the quality and spirit that saw them win four league titles in a row, it appears that the public need more convincing before they are ready to back the Blues over Liverpool and Arsenal. And if that is the popular mood, it will be the feeling in plenty of Premier League dressing rooms.
City lost their aura last season and the feeling that opponents had to be perfect to beat them. Instead of kicking games off praying that they got through it, more and more grew bolder against a side that wilted under pressure.
That makes the Blues more vulnerable, but it may also take some of the pressure off them. Guardiola has spoken many times about the difficulties of expectations that they will win 5-0 every week and wrap the Premier League title up four months early every year - and then there is the kudos of beating the champions.
"We won six in seven - we conquered the Premier League. But we start from zero. There are 114 points to play for," he said at the beginning of last season.
"When people say we are favourites, we have to accept it and live with that. Every season is more and more difficult. Everyone wants to beat us - that is normal."
For one season at least, that mantle passes to Liverpool with Arne Slot's side the bigger scalp now that they have dethroned City. Over at the Emirates, Arsenal have spent big again to try and finally get Mikel Arteta and his side over the line in the Premier League race after they struggled to cope with the pace last year.
Teams will still want to beat City because of what they have achieved in the past, but their newfound reputation for being vulnerable on transitions and in transition as a squad may give them one less issue to deal with as they set out to right the wrongs of last season and reclaim their title as English champions.