With a certain inevitability, Manchester City is suddenly in charge of the Premier League title race.

Arsenal and Liverpool both produced lethargic performances under pressure and lost home matches on Sunday, leaving City — seeking an unprecedented fourth straight English top-flight title — with a two-point lead with six games remaining.

After Liverpool lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace for its first league defeat at Anfield in 18 months, Arsenal was beaten 2-0 by Aston Villa for its first league defeat in 2024.

With the three contenders entering this weekend separated by one point, this season’s title race was being billed as the best in years — and potentially one for the ages.

There might still be twists and turns but many will be set to already crown City as the likely top team in England.

Again.

It was around this time of the year that Arsenal started to implode last season, as a typically fast-finishing City reeled in Mikel Arteta’s team.