After another win over a traditional Premier League giant, Pep Guardiola's Manchester City are flying high at the top of the table.
City beat Arsenal 3-1 at home in Sunday's game to keep their unbeaten record this season alive and further enhance their status as favourites to win the league crown.
City odds on to win the league
Sunday's win over Arsenal sees Guardiola's men make it 10 wins from 11 games in the English top flight, while they have scored 38 and conceded just seven.
Looking strong in Europe as well as domestic competition, City's only slip-up has come in a 1-1 draw with Everton in the second league game of the season and their fine start has seen them take an eight-point lead at the top.
It is the best start to a league campaign that Guardiola has ever had, according to Opta, topping his title-winning Barcelona and Bayern Munich sides.
| Team | Season | Games | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Man City | 2017-18 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 7 | 31 | 31 |
| Bayern Munich | 2015-16 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 4 | 29 | 31 |
| Bayern Munich | 2013-14 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 7 | 17 | 29 |
| Barcelona | 2008-09 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 8 | 28 | 28 |
| Barcelona | 2010-11 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 8 | 17 | 28 |
| Bayern Munich | 2014-15 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 27 | 3 | 24 | 27 |
| Barcelona | 2009-10 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 29 | 8 | 21 | 27 |
| Barcelona | 2011-12 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 34 | 6 | 28 | 25 |
| Man City | 2016-17 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 25 | 10 | 15 | 24 |
The Catalan coach has amassed 31 points after 11 games only once before in his career - his final season with Bayern - but City's goal difference of 31 is a new height for this point in the season.
It is a vast improvement on City's start to last season. They had just 24 points after as many games in 2016-17, making it Guardiola's worst ever start to a campaign.
The Blues' bright form this term has seen many tip them to go on to finish the season unbeaten, but the coach downplayed that possibility again on Sunday.
31 - With 31 points and a goal difference of +31, this is Pep Guardiola's best start after 11 games to a league season as manager. Stormer. pic.twitter.com/qiM2Zx5Krr
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 6, 2017
"Anyone can beat us, that is the principle in all of sport," he told reporters.
"It doesn't matter what happened in the past. You can win the Champions League then lose the day after – that is football, sport, basketball."
After the international break, City return to league action on November 18 with a visit to Leicester City before they host Feyenoord in the Champions League.
