DISPATCHES FROM THE OTHER SIDE

This is the first of a unique series of season-long articles on aspects of the race for the 2018-19 title. With the struggle hotly tipped to feature Liverpool and City as major protagonists, Liverpool fan and Guardian writer Sachin Nakrani will cover City's progress and City fan and ESPN writer Simon Curtis will reciprocate with his view on all things Liverpool. Honest, partisan, thought-provoking opinion on the other side by the other side.

Notes on the 2018-19 title race with a different perspective.  Writing with the enemy: 1) Starting Out By Sachin Nakrani and Simon Curtis
23rd August 2018 - After just two games there can be very little doubt that the majority forecast of a strong Liverpool bid for the title this season is already looking sound. For a side that had already seemed able to size City’s threat up last season, winning twice at Anfield and once at the Etihad in four fixtures between the teams, Liverpool now seem even better equipped to deal with all the other petty disturbances that uprooted their progress last season. Despite those three wins, the Reds were undressed in the Etihad league fixture and – even accepting the fact that everyone and his dog knew where the weaknesses lay – steadfastly refused to address those problems until it was manifestly too late. Virgil van Dijk’s eye-wateringly expensive switch from the familiar Southampton hatcheries began to shore up a central defence that had never carried the air of complete competence, but Liverpool supporters had to wait until the Summer to see the other holes patched up. Now, along with Van Dijk, there is a quality goalkeeper (also costing an arm, a leg and a couple of toes) and serious, rugged reinforcement of a midfield, which too often provided scant resistance when properly leant upon last season. The energetic input down the flanks from Robertson and Alexander-Arnold has given the side a completely different feel too. Liverpool’s start has pumped Anfield full of that glorious bluster that often carries them further than they might have expected. Manuel Pellegrini’s West Ham sent flying and the customary win at Crystal Palace secured with a little more sweat spent. Already, the two title favourites snuggle together at the top of the Premier League, a table which is not supposed to iron itself out until after eight-to-ten fixtures. You would not, however, bet against these two teams still occupying the same rungs come next May.  The burning question for the hordes at Anfield and the Etihad, is exactly in what order the two giants will finish.  Simon Curtis
23rd August 2018 - Supporters are never more optimistic than at the start of a new season. Hope springs eternal that their own side will be better than they were the previous year and that their opponents will be a little bit worse.  Then the first game kicks-off and you realise some things are exactly as they were, specifically Manchester City being really, really good at football.  Two games played by Pep Guardiola’s side and two wins secured in terrifying style. Arsenal were swept aside like a piece of litter stuck to the bottom of Bernardo Silva’s shoe, before Huddersfield were blown away at the Etihad Stadium in a manner that bordered on the murderous. City’s victory over David Wagner’s side was even more impressive for the fact Kevin de Bruyne did not feature having begun his long rehabilitation from a knee injury, while Kyle Walker and Raheem Sterling remained on the bench throughout. The depth of Guardiola’s squad is absurd, but I guess that’s what happens when a club that  was average for ages gets taken over by an Arab sugar daddy (sorry, couldn’t help myself). Nobody of note left during the summer while Riyad Mahrez arrived, meaning City are stronger than during their record-breaking run to the title. The loss of De Bruyne is a blow but the champions have the resources to cope without the Belgian for three months and, as they showed in their opening two games, their style of football remains beautiful and devastating in equal measure.  The boys in blue have simply picked up from where they left off and, with fixtures against Wolves, Newcastle, Fulham, Cardiff and Brighton to come before they face Liverpool at the start of October, it’s hard to see City not building up an almighty head of steam prior to travelling to Merseyside. It’s August so I’m optimistic, especially having seen Liverpool win their opening two games in impressive style, showing swaggering ruthlessness against West Ham and rugged determination at Crystal Palace. Jurgen Klopp’s men appear to have everything necessary to mount a serious title challenge, but have they got enough to catch City? I’m not that optimistic. Sachin Nakrani