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West Brom 0-5 Manchester City: City are back

By J.C. Gonzalez

Manchester City's German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the English Premier League football match between West Bromwich Albion and Manchester City at The Hawthorns stadium in West Bromwich, central England, on January 26, 2021. (Photo by Nick Potts / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by NICK POTTS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City's German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the English Premier League football match between West Bromwich Albion and Manchester City at The Hawthorns stadium in West Bromwich, central England, on January 26, 2021. (Photo by Nick Potts / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by NICK POTTS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Even without talisman Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City had absolutely no problems taking revenge on West Bromwich Albion away from home. The Citizens put up a massive number to end the day top of the Premier League level on games played at the exact halfway point of the season.

It’s the culmination of a truly remarkable turnaround, as well as the failures so far this season of those around them, namely, Liverpool. City are on pace to be just one point better than last season’s unmitigated disaster, in which they finished 18 points behind the eventual champions, yet this year, they have been the league’s best team.

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City’s resurgence is not to be undersold; it is an impressive achievement. Nevertheless, it is a matter of fact that the door was left open by Liverpool and City have taken full advantage. With a massive goalscoring performance reminiscent of the days of 2017-2019, even without De Bruyne or a proper striker, as well as yet another clean sheet for the league’s best defense, this team continues to prove its title credentials.

İlkay Gündoğan continued his wonderous renaissance of a season, scoring two more to make it seven in his last eight league matches, while Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez each scored and assisted each other. As João Cancelo continues to emerge as City’s best fullback, scoring and assisting as well, this team is absolutely clicking.

If this continues, City should have a much better second half of the season than they did in the first half, leaving the 90-point mark still within reach. This should be more than enough to win the league, although the argument can be made that City have done little more than take full advantage of an incredibly fortunate run of fixtures.

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To complement this run, however, they have an immensely difficult set of matches coming up, including a set of games against Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal, and Man United in a five-game span. City appear back to their very best, and they are the midseason champions, but there is far more to be done to reclaim their Premier League crown for the third time in four years.