After edging out Liverpool in a genuine two-horse title race in May 2019, Manchester City were understandably clear favourites to retain their title in 2020.

Liverpool’s starting price of 9/4 gave them a fighting chance, but, realistically, they were only expected to keep things competitive.

An extraordinary campaign for Jurgen Klopp’s team saw them rapidly become favourites, though, and by February – 22 points clear and 1/1000 to win the league – they had built an unassailable lead at the top of the division.

Here’s how it happened.

Pre-season

After pipping Liverpool to the title in 2019, City appear to strength further by spending over £100m on Rodri and Joao Cancelo.

Signing back-up goalkeeper Adrian is the extent of Liverpool’s transfer business, so they begin the season as 9/4 second-favourites to win the title.

15 September

The first shock of the season.

On the day that Liverpool record their fifth win from five games against Newcastle, Man City are beaten 3-2 at Norwich. Cracks are appearing, but the defending champions are still 4/6 to retain their title.

6 October

City take their dropped-points tally to eight on the first weekend of October, losing 2-0 to Wolves at the Etihad.

On Merseyside, Liverpool beat Leicester to maintain their 100 per cent record, but they are still not favourites to win the Premier League.

2 November

Liverpool might have dropped their first points of the season at Old Trafford a fortnight previously, but turning 1-0 deficits into 2-1 victories against Tottenham and Aston Villa in the following weeks provokes a reaction from the market.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are now around evens to win the league, at times edging ahead of City as favourites in a fluctuating market, and host Guardiola’s men the following week.

10 November

The day that everybody – including Betway punters – believed it really might be Liverpool’s year.

After the leaders beat City 3-1 at Anfield, roaring into a two-goal lead inside 13 minutes, they move into 1/3 favourites and never look back.

24 November

After Liverpool secure yet another victory at Crystal Palace a fortnight later, Betway have seen enough and pay out on them as 2019/20 title-winners.

“It’s hard to see them dropping points many times this season,” says [insert title or other descriptor?] Alan Alger. “We believe the club has one hand on the trophy already.”

7 December

The market is reluctant to give up on a City fightback, but the evidence is glaring after yet another defeat at the beginning of December.

Losing the Manchester derby feels pertinent. Even the 1/6 price for Liverpool seems generous at this stage.

28 December

City can’t cope with Liverpool’s relentless form.

Guardiola’s team throw away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 at Wolves just after Christmas and are effectively out of the race as they slip to 12/1.

2 February

City are clinging onto Liverpool’s but the inevitable is coming.

Another defeat, this time at Tottenham, sees their price rocket up to 66/1 and Liverpool’s tumble into 1000/1.

25 June 2020

A combination of a global pandemic and a brief blip in form – suffering their only defeat of the season at Watford and drawing 0-0 at Everton either side of the lockdown – means that Liverpool have to wait to end their title drought, but it makes no difference to the odds.

On Thursday 25 June, City drop yet more points at Chelsea to confirm the title that had been destined for Liverpool for several months.

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