Man City handed major Premier League opportunity after six-point swing

Manchester City showed improvement in their last four Premier League games and have a big chance to show more progress

Things looked bleak for Manchester City at the end of August but Pep Guardiola could at least take solace in the fact that his team's results had not got even worse. Defeats at home to Tottenham and away to Brighton sucked the optimism out of their start, yet were exactly the same reverses that they suffered last season.

That was hardly comforting given City want to do much better, and have spent £350m this year to do so. Given they secured a top-three finish last year though with a points tally of 71, there is plenty of room for improvement.

Guardiola's side started on that road in September, beating United at home to avenge that miserable home defeat to Ruben Amorim's side last December. They followed that up by getting a point at Arsenal - that could have been all three - and then held on at Brentford to grind out a 1-0 win where last year they surrendered a two-goal lead.

Those improvements totted up mean City have already picked up six extra points based on last season's results. Considering they only finished three points behind Arsenal last year and 13 behind leaders Liverpool, that is promising.

What is even better for them is that by the time the November international break rolls around City's net improvement in points could have jumped from six to 14.

It starts on Saturday when City host Everton at the Etihad. Last season a dreary Boxing Day draw was at least a point to celebrate in the middle of an awful run of form, but the Blues need to be looking to win these games if they are to mount a title challenge and this is an opportunity to improve by another two points.

The following week is more daunting but also a nightmare nostalgia trip back to last December. Villa away was one of the first games in years where City hadn't been pre-match favourites and they certainly lived up to that billing with a rather flattering scoreline of 1-2.

Unai Emery's side are showing a few signs of life but it has been a tough start for them that included a 3-0 loss at home to Palace in August. A draw for City would be an improvement on last year, and three points would be huge.

City will then have another tricky task in early November to match the home win against Bournemouth they secured in Kevin De Bruyne's final game at the Etihad. Andoni Iraola's side have improved again despite losing several of their best players in summer and will come to Manchester with no fear looking to claim another scalp.

The last chance for more points in this next block of fixtures comes with the visit of champions Liverpool. Mo Salah and his men were so far ahead of City both home and away last season it made for uncomfortable viewing for Blues, and summed up the lack of resistance City had to their title being taken away.

Avoiding another defeat will not be easy, yet any points City can get from this fixture will ensure not only that Liverpool do not get any further ahead of them this year but also that Guardiola's side are putting together the sort of points total that will put them in the title race.

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