Will a Manchester club return to the top of the Premier League in 2021?
Between Manchester United’s 13 league titles and the four that Manchester City have picked up, the city has won more Premier League silverware than any other region. In fact, Manchester has come out on top in almost two-thirds of all seasons.
Manchester has dominated the Premier League ever since it was founded in 1992.
Between Manchester United’s 13 league titles and the four that Manchester City have picked up, the city has won more Premier League silverware than any other region. In fact, Manchester has come out on top in almost two-thirds of all seasons.
Sir Alex Ferguson once quipped that he was proud he’d “knocked Liverpool off their perch”, referring to the fact that the Red Devils, under his leadership ended the Kopite domination of English football.
But in 2020, Liverpool finally ended its 30-year drought, winning the Premier League for the first time.
While it’s too soon to say for certain which club will come out on top next season, many bookmakers have Liverpool and Manchester City as the favourites to win. Now, as you may already know, betting on football is incredibly popular, with some studies showing as many as three-quarters of all fans bet on the beautiful game at least sometimes. Many that do, often take advantage of free bet promotions to help get more value from their wagers. And with the start of the new season just days away, we’ll likely see more generous offers from bookmakers. Perhaps even some nice odds on both clubs to finish above Liverpool?
ADVERTISEMENT
While Liverpool and Manchester City are the favourites, Manchester United are close behind. And with 38 games ahead of them, United certainly can’t be written off at this stage.
Can Manchester Beat Liverpool?
The rivalry between the two cities is centuries old, stemming back to the time of the industrial revolution when the Manchester Ship Canal was opened, devaluing Liverpool’s importance as a port city.
ADVERTISEMENT
This rivalry is most often seen in football, and Liverpool’s victory in 2020 came as a disappointment to many United and City fans. That means that knocking Liverpool back off their perch once more is important to football fans right across the city.
Doing it is going to be difficult though. Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have been dominant over the last season. The club went a whole year without a league loss, and for a while looked like they may go the entire season without losing a game. Beating this form is going to be difficult.
Resurgent United?
This dominant performance came at a time when United were suffering their worst form for a long time. After his retirement, the club hasn’t managed to replicate its success under Ferguson.
ADVERTISEMENT
They’ve begun to turn it around in recent months though, winning a lot more of their games in recent weeks and months. After Bruno Fernandes joined the team in the new year, United haven’t lost a league game.
They may still have a little further to go though before they get back to their title-winning ways.
Another Title for City?
Of the two Manchester clubs, City have been the stars of late. The team had been hoping to win a third consecutive title in 2020, but they were outclassed by Liverpool’s dominance. With its ban from the Champions League and eventually-successful appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport hanging over it, City underperformed.
With that pressure now gone, Pep Guardiola is free to focus on winning again. The club’s owners would really like a Champions League trophy, as City are yet to win any European silverware.
If they’re forced to prioritise, they’ll likely put their resources into becoming Champions of Europe, but there’s no reason they couldn’t do both.
ADVERTISEMENT
Can Liverpool Pull it Off?
As for Liverpool, the club has managed to retain the majority of its squad, with Klopp looking to make a few additions during the transfer window. It seems likely, therefore, that the reds will be able to keep up their consistent dominance going into next season.
The club and its players are riding high off their victory in 2019 and this wave of positivity will give them an edge going into the new season. This is by no means a guarantee of another title though.
One of the Manchester clubs certainly can beat Liverpool next season, but it won’t be easy for either of them.
You must be 18 or older to bet online. Please bet responsibly. For more information on responsible gambling, visit: http://www.gamcare.org.uk/
Sport
Great Manchester Run guide for 2026 – route map, waves and start times, travel advice and more
Danny Jones
‘Marathon season’ may be over for some, but not for those taking part in the AJ Bell Great Manchester, which returns this year for its 23rd edition.
The 2026 Great Manchester Run takes place this Sunday, 31 May, and tens of thousands of Mancs and more are set to take on the challenge, be that the fan favourite and super flat 10k, or the equally popular half-marathon.
Whatever distance you’re doing, or even if you’re just turning up to cheer on your mates and loved ones, we’ve put together a list of all the important details ahead of another sell-out event – but places
Here’s everything you need to know…
Great Manchester Run 2026 – all the key info
The GMR course map for 2026
If you’re wondering what the route for this year’s Great Manchester Run is like, it’s largely the same as most other years, no matter which race you’re talking about.
As a brief overview, the 10k course takes you from the start line on Portland Street, towards Old Trafford and the edge of Salford Quays, before heading back into town.
Meanwhile, the half-marathon route covers the same ground, but you also take along the Mancunian Way and over to the Nexen Bridge to Manchester City’s Etihad Campus and then back over the elevated motorway for the two main bits of your elevation.
Best of all, both share that box office finish line on the main Deansgate strip, where you can drink in all the glory; you can see a more in-depth look at both down below.
The 2026 route map, including water stations and toilet stops. (Credit: AJ Bell Great Manchester Run)
What are the Great Manchester run waves and start times?
Now, for those of you who are putting the great in Greater Manchester this year, the first thing on the docket for 2026 is the information point opening bright and early, before elite runners and those with visual impairments start assembling from 7:15am.
After that, the warm-up and subsequent waves (which you’ll find on your tour bib along with your participant number and RFID chips) will set off in staggered intervals until just after half past eight.
For anyone who hasn’t yet received their race pack, you can visit the info point, and your access point to the start line will also be signposted according to your corresponding wave colour.
As for those doing the shorter dash, here’s your breakdown:
10k running order (pun intended)
7:55 – Elite Wheelchair Athletes Start
11:00 – Assembly Opens: Fast Paced, Orange and Green Waves
11:30 – Elite Women Start
11:32 – Warm Up
11:40 – Visually Impaired (VI) Participants Start
11:45 – Elite Men, Fast Paced and Orange Wave Start
12:05 – Green Wave Start
12:25 – Assembly Opens: Purple and Pink Waves
12:40 – Warm Up
12:50 – Purple Wave Starts
13:10 – Pink Wave Starts
AJ Bell’s Junior and Mini children’s races – Great Manchester Run
As always, 2026 will also see the joint junior and mini races for kids, which takes place separately from the main course and hordes of runners on the Sunday.
Getting underway on Saturday, 30 May), mini runners (aged 3-8) race through a 1.6km dash, and junior runners (aged 9-15) will take on a 2.5km challenge.
Supporters are encouraged to come along and experience this joyous spin-off over at the Etihad Campus, with stars from the hit BBC reboot of Gladiators set to join in the party.
If your little ones have speedy feet, keep an eye out for 2027 sign-ups when they go live.
📢 Calling all future running stars!
Super Saturdays are BACK for 2026 🎉🦸
Join the UK’s best kids running series, packed with fundraising, family time and fun at our Junior & Mini events 🙌
Great MCR Run travel advice, diversions and road closures
Now, naturally, when such a huge event with more than 40,000 runners is set to take over the city, not to mention the 100k+ spectators that are expected to line the streets on the day, it’s always going to have an impact on travel.
Those watching on the sidelines are being urged to use public transport wherever possible, with extra trams being put on throughout the day, and various other arms of the Bee Network (who have a full guide ahead of the event) will be there to get people around the event.
If you do end up driving into the region for the action, we would recommend you use one of Greater Manchester’s multiple park and ride sites and then use one of our many Metrolink services to travel into the city centre itself.
Whitworth Street West: 6.30am – 2.45pm (includes parking restrictions)
It’s also worth noting that there will be a number of bus diversions on the day; you can consult the adjusted timetable HERE.
Event village + other pre- and post-race extras
This year’s event village is based on St Peter’s Square and is open to everyone; it’s set to feature a wide range of activities, charities and exhibitors for everyone to enjoy.
From giveaways and competitions in partnership with the AJ Bell ‘Money Matters’ team, as well as Solgar, Mitchum, Liquid I. V. and SiS energy gels (we’re sure enough of you will be more than familiar after the run is all said and done), there’s a lot of different bits and bobs up for grabs.
We don’t know about you, but we’ll be heading straight to the mobile Lucky Saint bar, which will be serving ice-cold, refreshing, alcohol-free beers – they’re going to hit SO different after a run in the sun.
Credit: Supplied (via Great Manchester Run/Lucky Saint)
Cheer zones and support hubs: best spots to watch the Great Manchester Run
For those of you set to line the streets and provide your much-needed support on race day, there are some key sections where the atmosphere from the crowd will be injected into the runners.
ADVERTISEMENT
As well as drummers, local choirs and lots more surprises to keep your energy pumping throughout, there’ll be some big corners to look out for your loved ones.
You can find some of the main supporter hotspots and where they are along the route down below, but we’d personally recommend the roundabout coming heading towards Chester Road, the small grassy mounts and central reservation either side of Cornbrook, and the corner of Deansgate-Castlefield.
Half marathon
St Peter’s Square – for the start line
Manchester Piccadilly – 2-mile marker
Etihad Campus/Velopark – 4/5-mile marker
Wharfside/Imperial War Museum – 10/11-mile marker
Cornbrook – 12-mile marker
Deansgate-Castlefield exchange – for the finish line
10k
St Peter’s Square – for the start line
Cornbrook – 2km marker
Old Trafford – 4km marker
Wharfside/Imperial War Museum – 6km marker
Cornbrook – 9km marker
Deansgate-Castlefield corner – for the finish line
We want this kind of energy all day long, please and thank you:
Every year, we always get to see a fair few celebs and noteworthy names either taking on the 13.1-mile/21.1k dash, be that out on the start line with the rest of you, teaming up with the official BBC presenting team, or simply helping cheer on in their own way.
This one is no different – familiar faces to look out for include: Traitors stars, Reece Ward, Jessie Roux and Jack Butler, Race Across the World winners, Kush Burman and Joe Diop, siblings Katie and Harrison Devine, Caroline Bridge, along with Emon Choudhury, running in memory of the late Sam Gardiner.
Cast members from Waterloo Road will also be there, such as Jason Merrells (Jack Rimmer), Maisie Robinson (Portis Weaver), Tillie Amartey (Stace Neville) and Cory McClane (Ashton Stone); the same goes for Corrie and Emmerdale stars.
Before we wrap this thing up, there’s also the matter of how to track runners on the day as they make their way along the course. The easiest way to do this is by downloading the Great Run app, where you can simply enter runners’ names and race numbers to follow along. You can find it HERE.
Obviously, there are also options such as the FindMy apps and the likes of WhatsApp, where you can share location for several hours throughout the duration of the day.
There is also the dedicated AJ Bell ‘Motivation Station’ along the last stretch of the city centre track, where people can write messages of support for those final metres and yards. Enter yours now.
Last but not least, you can find the official event guide in full on the Great Run website, with all the info above and more, plus plenty of other extras.
Once again, we’d also encourage you all to download the official app, which should help you access all these key details quickly and easily, not to mention have your tracker to hand so you don’t miss the all-important runners on the day.
ADVERTISEMENT
That’s just about it; all we have left to say is have a wonderful Great Manchester Run and have an incredible day – and for those of you running: go and absolutely smash it! We’re proud of you already.
Bernardo Silva shares hilarious X-rated clash with John Stones before they were teammates
Danny Jones
This long weekend not only saw Man City manager and sporting legend Pep Guardiola bid goodbye to the club after a decade, but so did John Stones and Bernardo Silva, and the latter shared a hilarious story about an encounter before their bromance in blue.
Can’t lie, this one nearly made us spit out our tea when we first watched it…
Following the trio’s respective final games, this late May bank holiday Monday saw yet another City parade pass through Manchester, and as the party continued over at the Etihad Campus and Co-op Live for the afterparty, the boys got up on stage to say some parting words.
In Silva’s case, he chose to share, rather fittingly, some very choice words indeed, as he talked about his time playing against Stones when he was still in France.
From ‘little soft c**t’ to brothers lifting trebles together… football heritage.
Safe to say no one was expecting that particular expletive to come out of his mouth – we reckon not even most of the squad themselves.
During the Yorkshireman‘s first season at Manchester City, he came up against the creative midfielder in the Champions League when he was still playing at Ligue 1 side AS Monaco.
As you can see in the clip above, while it wasn’t the friendliest of exchanges back then, they soon buried the hatchet and chalked it off as nothing more than football.
Both fierce competitors in their own right, they look to be plenty soft with each other off the pitch ever since they became teammates.
So much so, in fact, that the duo ended up being the face of a pop-up Man City pub earlier this month, recreating the famous photo of the Gallagher brothers wearing the 1993/94 kits.
Credit: Manchester City FC (publicity pictures)
It’s plain to see in the clip how much love there is between the two, all these years later, and the story itself got a rapturous reaction from their peers and the crowd alike.
Silva has plenty of fans across Europe, both as a player and purely as a character; you only have to look at how Jack Grealish often reiterates his love for the Portuguese playmaker as a person and Premier League character, or even how pundits aligned with rival clubs like Gary Neville waxes lyrical about him.
And then we come to Pep himself.
Guardiola was rightfully given a fantastic guard of honour at the stadium itself on Sunday, with his speech making for an emotional moment for all those in the stands and watching at home, and City supporters at the parade made sure to give him a proper send-off.
The Manc -
8th September 2020 
