Manchester City hold three-point lead atop Premier League after five games
Manchester City have moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League after five rounds of fixtures, giving them the early advantage in the title race as the season settles into its rhythm.
Early season shape
With seven matchdays now generally under way across the division, City's position atop the table offers the clearest sign yet of who holds the initiative heading into the coming weeks.
A three-point cushion at this stage is not decisive, but it does place the chasing pack under early pressure to close the gap before fixtures pile up.
What comes next
Attention will now turn to how City's rivals respond in the matches ahead, with the table likely to shift again before the picture becomes clearer over the following rounds.