Five records Manchester City are eyeing after claiming the title

The ease with which Manchester City took the lead in the Premier League title race before extending it beyond reach has made this season a little boring. But make no mistake, City are deserving champions.

The Citizens played most of their games in the final stretch of the season in cruise control. One reason was so they could focus on the Champions League, but that did not go according to plan, as Pep Guardiola’s side were dumped out by Liverpool.

Now, with two trophies in hand and nothing else to play for, all City have to look forward to with five games to go are five records that could be theirs for a long time to come.

Remaining fixtures for Manchester City: Swansea (H), West Ham (A), Huddersfield (H), Brighton (H), Southampton (A)

1. Most points
Current record: 95
City’s tally so far: 87
Probability of breaking the record: high

Chelsea’s 2004-05 season not only announced Jose Mourinho’s arrival in England but also that of Roman Abramovich and the advent of money in England’s top flight. Their 29 wins and eight draws saw them win 95 points in all.

City have gone down a similar road, having spent more than any other team in recent years. Guardiola also took a season to get going before he developed a style of play his entire squad was comfortable with.

So far, the Mancunians have 28 wins and three draws, thus need three wins to break the record. Judging by their opponents, City could easily break Chelsea’s record, as all five teams are in the bottom half of the table.

2. Most wins
Current record: 30
City’s tally so far: 28
Probability of breaking the record: very high

This is also another Chelsea record in City’s sights, although it’s not a Mourinho record – this one belongs to Antonio Conte, who led the Blues to 30 wins in his debut season in England.

The Italian manager made a brave call to switch to a back three when the Blues were losing early in the season and a winning run saw them win the league with two games to spare.

Guardiola’s side need three wins to make the record their own and they have already beaten all five sides they are yet to meet again – some of which were convincing wins.

With three games at home, those games alone should be enough for the record.

Photo by Nigel French – EMPICS/PA Images via Getty Images

3. Most away wins
Current record: 15
City’s tally so far: 14
Probability of breaking the record: high

Consistently winning games at home will put you in the title race, but winning away from home truly separates champions from the rest of the pack.

Results on the road in the Premier League are no longer foregone conclusions and teams are required to work their butts off to return with all three points.

Mourinho’s 2004-05 Chelsea side currently have the record, with 15 away wins, of which five were narrow 1-0 wins – they only lost once in away games.

City are on 14 away wins, with narrow results an aberration rather than the norm. But they must win both away games to break the record.

They might get over West Ham, but will Guardiola play a full strength squad in the final game of the season against Southampton, who might be relegated by then?

4. Most goals
Current record: 103
City’s tally so far: 93
Probability of breaking the record: high

This is yet another record that belongs to Chelsea, but it was Carlo Ancelotti’s 2009-10 squad that plundered opponents with scorelines such as 7-0, 7-1, 7-2, and even 8-0.

That 8-0 win, on the final day against Wigan, sealed the title with the Blues pipping United by a single point> Ancelotti won the double that season, winning the FA Cup as well.

For Guardiola’s side to claim the record, they need to score 11 more goals in five games. Judging by their results in the reverse fixtures against the teams they are yet to play again, this is quite possible.

In all, they scored 12 goals against the five teams left. Don’t put it past them to break the record.

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5. Biggest winning points margin
Current record: 18
City’s lead now: 16
Probability of breaking the record: very high

The 1999-2000 season saw Manchester United win the Premier League title by a massive 18 points, finishing with 91 points, while Arsenal were second with just 73 points.

For Guardiola’s side to overhaul that margin, they need their Manchester rivals to drop points as well. Mourinho’s side denied City a title win in the derby game by handing them a 3-2 defeat but that only delayed the inevitable.

A 1-0 loss to bottom side West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford effectively handed City the title. And who do they play next? Bournemouth (A), Arsenal (H), Brighton (A), West Ham (A), Watford (H).

The Red Devils beat all five teams in their reverse fixture. Whether they will drop points or not is tough to predict.

Arsenal are the toughest opponents but their league game is sandwiched between two must-win Europa League semi-final legs, against Atletico Madrid. Arsene Wenger may rest his crucial players for the trip to Old Trafford considering a top-four finish is an impossible task.

As things stand with respect to the points margin, City only need United to drop two points – i.e. one draw will do.