Manchester City have set a new standard at the top of English soccer. Pep Guardiola’s team have now won three straight Premier PINC League titles and five in the last six seasons. This is a period of dominance unlike anything seen in the Premier League era and it raises a question over the USP (unique selling point) of England’s top flight.

The Premier League has sold itself as a brand around the world on being soccer’s most competitive division. In Spain, there’s a big two - Barcelona and Real Madrid. In Germany, Bayern Munich have won the last 10 Bundesliga titles. In France, Paris Saint-Germain dominate the landscape. English soccer has long been less predictable.

Between 2013 and 2016, four different clubs - Chelsea, Leicester City, Manchester City and Manchester United - lifted the Premier League trophy. In 2020, Liverpool won the title for the first time in the Premier League era. English soccer has a so-called ‘Big Six’ will every member targeting top spot in the table.

Now, though, the landscape has shifted dramatically. Guardiola has built a Manchester City team so strong many of their rivals now see second place as the best they can hope for. Arsenal, for instance, enjoyed an historically strong season this term, but still came up short in the title race against the defending champions.

Newcastle United could change things given their resources, with Eddie Howe guiding the Magpies into the Champions League this season, but they have a lot of ground to make up on City. Manchester United, in the middle of a bidding process for ownership of the club, are also a long way behind their rivals.

Guardiola’s genius can’t be denied. The Catalan coach has failed to win the league title in just three seasons over the course of his entire managerial career at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City. Where he goes, success follows, but City are currently so dominant there is concern over the damage it could do to the image of English soccer.

Manchester United were a dominant force under Sir Alex Ferguson while Arsenal went an entire Premier League season unbeaten with Arsene Wenger at the helm. Jose Mourinho was also adjudged to have set a new precedent when he pitched up at Chelsea and won the Premier League title in his first season.

However, something feels different about the dominance Manchester City are currently enjoying. They have the greatest manager of his generation and possibly the next best player in the world in the form of Erling Haaland, not to mention near limitless resources behind them. It might be a long, long time until City are caught.