Manchester City are the Premier League’s biggest winners at Christmas after their title rivals failed to take full advantage of their Club World Cup hiatus, claims Ian Ladyman. 

Speaking on the latest It’s All Kicking Off podcast, Ladyman believes the lay of the land in the title race, after Liverpool and Arsenal took points off each other at Anfield, and Aston Villa stumbled to draw with Sheffield United, now favours City.  

‘I think Chris that Manchester City are the winners of Christmas so far and they haven’t even played,’ Ladyman told co-host Chris Sutton.

‘Liverpool have played two games at home and not won either of them. Aston Villa have played the bottom team in the Premier League at home and didn’t beat them. Arsenal couldn’t win at Anfield. So City will be reasonably happy about that don’t you think?’

Manchester City took a brief hiatus from the Premier League to win the FIFA Club World Cup

Back home, title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal took points off each other in a draw at Anfield

Before Sutton responded, Ladyman added: ‘I think their big fear would have been to come back from Saudi Arabia to find themselves eight, nine, 10 points adrift in the Premier League and they haven’t.’

City return to England sat fifth in the table, six points off league leaders Arsenal having played a game less. 

But Sutton is not totally convinced that City boss Pep Guardiola would have been too concerned regardless of the points differential. 

‘I don’t think that Pep would have been sort of really worrying too much about Liverpool and Arsenal gaining such a great advantage over them,’ he said. 

‘They’ve hauled in Arsenal last season. But I understand what you’re saying.

‘I don’t necessarily think that Manchester City are big winners at this moment in time. 

‘I think that the focus from Pep would probably be more on his team showing greater consistency, but we all expect that to come now.’

Aston Villa, surprise top four contenders this season, also stumbled to draw to Sheffield United

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Ian Ladyman thinks Man City are the biggest winners in the Premier League without playing

City were busy last week claiming their fifth title of 2023, romping to victory to beat Fluminense to the Club World Cup.

Guardiola’s side will come back to earth and to league action by taking on Everton on December 27, eager to begin chipping away at their rivals’ points lead on them.

‘I do wonder if City can win that game at Goodison Park, they may just get rolling in the way that they often do,’ Ladyman added, citing the long winning runs City have been famed for during their recent Premier League title wins.

‘I do think all teams need a kick-start at some point, something to give them a bit of a fire in the engine. 

‘City have been a little bit up and down recently. 

Chris Sutton still has some reservations about Man City after a mixed start to their title defence

I just think they come back from winning the Club World Cup, and put in a big performance at Everton, winning the game. 

‘It might be the thing that gets them going. [Erling] Haaland is back, [Kevin] De Bruyne is training…’

City’s final match before they broke off for the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia was a frustrating 2-2 draw at home to Crystal Palace.

Guardiola’s side had held a 2-0 lead over the Eagles, only to be denied by a late comeback from the visitors.