Is the title race really back on? In the aftermath of Man City's convincing win over Southampton on Sunday, manager Manuel Pellegrini would have us think so.
City are now six points behind Chelsea, who could only draw with Sunderland on Sunday evening but remain unbeaten this season.
But while the Blues are sitting pretty atop the Premier League for now, Pellegrini believes that things could change quickly and has hailed the "spirit, personality and ambition" of his squad.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Latest Videos FromThe Week
"We have to play 25 games more," noted the Chilean. "It's a lot of points. No one knows what happens in the future. In one week, you can change things."
He could have a point. "After a start to the season in which it appeared that Chelsea would march to the title unopposed, that is quite a turnaround," says The Times. "City were certainly impressive enough against Ronald Koeman's [Southampton] team to suggest they can make a fist of it."
City produced "their most accomplished performance of the season by a considerable distance" on Sunday, agrees The Guardian. Yaya Toure is "rumbling into top gear" and Sergio Aguero was outstanding once again.
"Manchester City are a mood team. If their mentality is right, then they are just as formidable as Chelsea," adds the paper.
Both teams have personnel issues after the weekend, Diego Costa is suspended for the midweek game against Spurs, while City could be without Vincent Kompany, who limped off on Sunday, as well as Eliaquim Mangala, who is suspended for the trip to Sunderland.
However, City's injury problems could be a factor in their favour according to Gab Marcotti of ESPN. He notes that while Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has settled on a favoured XI, City have been forced to juggle their line-up. That, though, could help City next year as the players are less likely to be fatigued than Chelsea's.
