Nobody could have predicted that Manchester City would be ahead of Liverpool in the Premier League at this stage of the season. Naturally, a good start always helps the manager of a new club, and Sven-Goran Eriksson certainly enjoyed his honeymoon period at Eastlands, basking in the glow of a Manchester derby victory which owed more to resolute defending than sublime football.

However, it's now the middle of January and City are still stationed in the Champions League places. Not only will they be playing European football next season, but at this rate they'll be rubbing shoulders with Milan and Real Madrid rather than PAOK Salonika and AZ Alkmaar. OK, Liverpool fans, stop sniggering at the back. It's true that City have ridden their luck this season, not least on December 30 when, playing like the away side, they held out for a draw at home to the Reds. However, unlike Rafa Benitez's men, they don't have the distraction of Europe to contend with - at least not until next season.

City's current league position owes itself to two main factors - firstly, and most obviously, their excellent home form. While their 100% record had to go at some time, it would be no surprise to see them unbeaten at the City of Manchester Stadium for the remainder of the season. Especially if centre-halves Richard Dunne and Micah Richards continue to stay free from injury and repeat some of their many exceptional performances this campaign.

'It might sound slightly odd but the game which Eriksson probably learned most from was the 6-0 thrashing at Stamford Bridge'


The second factor might sound slightly odd but the game which Eriksson probably learned most from was the 6-0 thrashing at Stamford Bridge. It's almost easy to forget the way that the Swede's team were humbled late in October, with Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Didier Drogba carving apart the visitors with consummate ease. A visibly shell-shocked Sven promised afterwards that his team wouldn't lose in that manner again, a mission statement that has proved to be accurate, with just one league defeat since that dark autumn day.

If Manchester City are to finish in the top four this season, they need to do a number of things. One of those is to sign a striker who's going to quickly adapt to Sven's preference for 4-5-1 and score a handful of goals between now and May. Rolando Bianchi has made noises that he's not happy in England, while Darius Vassell and Emile Mpenza are not the answer up front either.

They'll also need to start collecting more points on their travels, starting with the game at Goodison Park on Saturday. While the victory at St James' Park was impressive enough, it came against a Newcastle team shorn of confidence and (as we now know) their manager teetering on the brink.

Everton are an entirely different proposition and perhaps the other team best equipped to be challenging the old order of the so-called 'Big Four'. Unlike City, the Toffees don't have untold riches to spend on a raft of new players, although David Moyes has ensured that the Blues are now looking onwards and upwards rather than perilously over their shoulder.

Saturday's match won't determine who the fifth-best team in the land are right now (that's Liverpool after all!), but the victors could find themselves in a very commanding league position, especially if the Reds fail to win at the Riverside Stadium. This would be no great surprise, given the speculation surrounding the future of  Benitez, which may go some way to accounting for their current poor form.

Are Manchester City knocking on the door to become one of the Premier League's elite? Or will they still be lucky to land a UEFA Cup place? Post your comments below or submit an article to Sportingo.