Manchester City's hopes of winning the treble this season were dashed after losing 3-2 to Liverpool in the semifinals on Saturday. The Citizens are now aiming for a double this season, with the Premier League and Champions League titles at the top of their priority list. On the other hand, Liverpool have already won the EFL Cup and they are a strong contender for the FA Cup, Premier League, and Champions League. Manchester City's double or Liverpool's quadruple are the two most likely scenarios.
Manchester City's Prospect of Winning the Double
Manchester City have won five of the last seven EFL titles, including four straight from 2018 to 2021. However, they were unable to win the EFL Cup this season after succumbing in the fourth round to West Ham United. The Citizens also missed out on a treble opportunity after losing 3-2 to Liverpool in the FA Cup semifinal.
Manchester City now have a chance to win the Premier League and the FA Cup this season. They appear to be favourites to win both prestigious trophies. With 74 points, Pep Guardiola's team now leads the Premier League points standings. Manchester City are only one point ahead of second-placed Liverpool with seven games remaining. If Manchester City win the remainder of their games this season, they will be crowned champions.
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Manchester City will meet Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League. On paper, Manchester City have a better squad than Real Madrid, but overcoming Los Blancos would be extremely challenging. Man City will face either Liverpool or Villarreal in the final if they can defeat Europe's most successful club in the semi-final. Given Manchester City's and Liverpool's recent form, an all-English final is a genuine possibility.
Liverpool's Prospect of Winning the Quadruple
Liverpool's first trophy of the season came in February when they won the EFL Cup final against Chelsea. They defeated Chelsea 11-10 in a marathon penalty shootout. Liverpool also qualified for the 2022 FA Cup final after defeating Manchester City 3-2 in the semifinal. In the final, Liverpool will face either Chelsea or Crystal Palace. The final against Chelsea would be an intriguing matchup, considering the two teams have previously met in a final this season. The final match is expected to take place on May 14.
Liverpool are only one point behind Manchester City in the Premier League. Liverpool have a total of 73 points after 31 games. They will keep pressing Man City until the end of the season, hoping for a slip-up in one of their final games. However, Liverpool must win their remaining matches to stay in contention.
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Liverpool also have a realistic chance of winning the Champions League this season. Liverpool will play Villarreal of Spain in the semifinal and will start as favourites. If they qualify, Liverpool will face either Real Madrid or Manchester City in the final. There will be no favourites in the championship game as whoever execute the game plan properly have a fair chance of winning the UCL 2022.
Verdict
Both Manchester City and Liverpool have been in excellent form this season, and they made sure to have a good squad depth before the season started. Both teams' squad depth proved to be quite effective as the season progressed. Manchester City will surely want to win the Premier League as well as the Champions League this season. Therefore, the Citizens have the upper hand in the current debate about Manchester City's double or Liverpool's quadruple. On the other hand, Liverpool have the potential to make history by being the first English side to win all four major titles in a single season, and thus surprise everyone.
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