EPL trophy seems destined for Manchester

THE new English Premier League (EPL) season is only five games old, but the signs are emerging that the competition's gleaming trophy is destined for the city of Manchester come next May.

The 10kg piece of silverware now resides at Stamford Bridge in London, home of reigning champions Chelsea. The Blues are in third place and only three points off the summit at this early stage of the season, but they are not the bookies' favourites to retain the championship that they won at a canter just four months ago.

Based on current form, the race for the EPL crown is fast shaping up to be a feisty two-horse battle between the two big-spending Manchester clubs, City and United.

After five fixtures, the Manchester rivals are locked neck-and-neck at the top of the table on 13 points. They boast identical records of four wins and a draw, each scoring 16 goa…