The issues that might undermine City have risen to the surface just as the teams immediately below them have found their form.

In the 10-match form table, Liverpool are top, Arsenal are second, Manchester United are third and Tottenham are fifth. Chelsea are surviving their mini-wobble quite well in fourth place in that form table, but City are now down to 10th.

At the recent rates of accumulating points, City will be pushed out of the top four and that would be a disaster. Even fourth place, which would require them to go through a qualifying round for the Champions League, would be unacceptable for a club of their ambition and spending power.

It is interesting that West Brom, the visitors to the Etihad in Saturday’s early match, are one of the teams ahead of City in the 10-match form table. Thanks to the impetus provided by new manager Tony Pulis, West Brom have lost only two of their last 10 games and have averaged 1.6 points per game during that run. City, by contrast, have lost three of their last 10 and averaged 1.5 points per game.

Danger lurks for City if they under-perform again, but it has to be said that Pulis’s teams generally struggle against the top teams, particularly on the road. West Brom’s only match against a big-six side since he took charge was a 3-0 home defeat by Tottenham and last season, while he worked wonders overall with Crystal Palace, Pulis lost six out of eight against big-six teams – from a possible 24 points he picked up only four, all at home.

City are the shortest-priced team on the Premier League programme, which illustrates that failure to win would be another big surprise, but on current form they look a little too risky.

Arsenal, only a point behind City, look a safer banker at Newcastle tonight. The Gunners have won their last six league matches against Newcastle, whose occasional ability to spring a surprise under previous manager Alan Pardew appears to have been lost under interim boss John Carver. Newcastle are another club marking time until they change manager in the summer and they have won only two out of 11 for Carver, both against struggling teams. Carver has lost all four matches against teams in the top seven.

The big clash in the battle for Champions League places is at Anfield on Sunday when Liverpool host Manchester United. Liverpool are unbeaten in 14 at home in all competitions, although there has been an even split of wins and draws and United’s form figures suggest this is a tight match to call. Liverpool’s overall performance level looks more convincing than United’s, however, and a home win is the pick.

Tottenham could do with a boost in their challenge for a Champions League place and should get it at home to bottom club Leicester. Tottenham are second only to Chelsea in results against the bottom seven, with nine wins out of 11, while Leicester are on another long winless run (currently seven matches).

Southampton also need to revive their form and will be wary of visitors Burnley, having lost the reverse fixture 1-0. Since then, however, Southampton have won four out of five against teams in the bottom seven and their form might not be declining as severely as it appears.

Having recommended Aston Villa last weekend, the same advice applies even in a tougher match at home to Swansea. Tim Sherwood has encouraged greater attacking intent and, with Villa now scoring goals, their win prospects appear to be ahead of any adjustment in their odds.

TOP FIVE BETS:

Aston Villa home win
The quality is showing now that Tim Sherwood has them scoring

Liverpool home win
Tight match on form lines but visual impression suggests hosts have the edge

Charlton on handicap
Much improved under new manager Guy Luzon

Hoffenheim away win
Excellent win rate against struggling teams

Werder Bremen on handicap
Unbeaten in seven against teams outside top four

SHORTLIST:

Stoke, Brentford, Real Sociedad,

17
Points dropped by Everton from a winning position this season

16
Points recovered by Tottenham from a losing position this season

12
Premier League matches without a draw for Arsenal