Manchester City: 4 Reasons the Citizens Can Win Premier League This Year

This season's Premier League title race is one of the most exciting ever. Why? There's a new kid in town.

Manchester City have gone from being eclipsed by the huge shadow cast by their fierce city rivals to a world class team capable of mixing it up with the best.

They've broken into the Champions League, enjoyed cup success, and now they're after the title.

Here are four reasons why we could see a welcome change this year in whose club name is engraved onto the English Premier League trophy.

It's Official: City Are a Big Club

As if it didn't need pointing out at this stage, Manchester City are officially a big club now. The Citizens are the reason the phrase "big four" is no longer used. It's more like a power five now.

Manchester City is big, global and exciting. The name carries a weight and reputation that can attract the very best in the world.

Need proof? Check this summer's business.

With Yaya Toure, David Silva and Sergio Aguero on the roster, City have some of the best footballers in the world playing for them. They have the quality to finish at least second this year and mount a serious title challenge.

The beauty of it is that if, in January, City don't look like they've got the wherewithal to win, they'll spend again and enhance their chances.

Diminished Competition

This season, beyond the two Manchester clubs, the competition doesn't look as strong as it has been in previous seasons.

Chelsea are still a great team and a force to be reckoned with, but they've been a little up-and-down so far, prompting expectations that they'll fall just short this year but mount a real challenge next season.

Liverpool, again, look significantly better under Kenny Dalglish but remain flaky at times. The inconsistencies in their performances will be hammered out over time, and they will be a serious threat next season. Although, it is important to remember that with Luis Suarez in your team, anything is possible.

There isn't much that needs to be said about Arsenal and their current sufferings, so let us conclude that it could already be a two-horse race as many people are suggesting. An unbelievably exciting, intense, rivalry-fuelled, two-horse race, I might add.

Strength in Depth

Over the last few seasons, Manchester City have compiled an unbelievable squad. They don't just have a fantastic starting eleven, they've got a world-class bench and quality players in the reserves.

The team Robert Mancini sent out against Birmingham City in the Carling Cup was a reserve team that could probably finish 15th in the English Premier League this season at ease.

The club has a world-class midfield and strike force, with two players for each position and a solid defence led by the excellent Joe Hart and the commanding Vincent Kompany.

In the spirit of spending, City could perhaps do with one or two additions, but they have the deepest squad in the Premier League, and that can only mean they are ready for the run in.

It's a Team of Winners

Quite often, you'll hear managers and pundits alike state that a certain team will be favourites to win the league because they have the experienced players who've done it before.

Well, Manchester City and Roberto Mancini have compiled a squad of winners that are up to the challenge of winning the league.

Yaya Toure, Owen Hargreaves, Mario Balotelli and Kolo Toure, amongst others, have all tasted league success with previous clubs and City are coming off the back of winning the FA Cup.

Add to this an established core of quality players, including World Cup 2010 winner David Silva, and you have a recipe for success.