Big Match Focus: Swansea braces for runaway leader City

Though entering games with the record books under threat is becoming routine for Manchester City, it stands on the brink of setting a remarkable new benchmark in Wednesday's trip to Swansea City.

Pep Guardiola's side has thrilled its way to an 11-point advantage at the top of the league, a gap that yawned ever wider after Sunday's 2-1 triumph at arch-rival Manchester United.

David Silva and Nicolas Otamendi got the goals to secure a 14th victory in sequence for the champion-elect; a winning run that only one side in English top-flight history can match - Arsenal.

Read: Silva signs one-year contract extension at Man City

The Gunners' victorious streak, from February to August in 2002, spanned two campaigns, so City's effort already holds a certain distinction, but it will want a slice of solo history to go with a Premier League trophy that seems within reach even at this stage of the season.

WHAT NEXT FOR CITY?

Pep Guardiola's side has thrilled its way to an 11-point advantage at the top of the Premier League this season.

A 15th win on the bounce would not just be a top-flight record for City, but also a new benchmark across all English league football.

It would also take the country's top-flight record beyond France's best - set by Bordeaux in 2009.

Read: City's 14th win on the trot sets new top-flight record

Real Madrid and Barcelona's (obviously La Liga's best in this regard) would be matched if City goes on to beat Tottenham at the weekend. If it can keep its run going and ring in the New Year with a win over Watford in its first game of 2018 it will reach 20 straight triumphs, surpassing the record across all of Europe's top five leagues set by Bayern Munich (19).

FORM GUIDE

Manchester City has been on a roll this season.

City's form needs little more spelling out, but Swansea is also on the up, having beaten West Brom 1-0 on Saturday.

That victory lifted Paul Clement's side off the bottom of the table, as former City striker Wilfried Bony scored late in the game at the Liberty Stadium.

Bony has converted in each of his last two outings and showed a penchant for netting against former employer versus Stoke City before Saturday's effort. He may get another go with Tammy Abraham struggling to match his early-season exploits.

PLAYER HEAD-TO-HEAD (Lukasz Fabianski v Ederson)

City keeper Ederson has only stopped 67.7 per cent of the shots he has faced from going in.

Lukasz Fabianski can perhaps expect to be a tad busier than Ederson on Wednesday, he certainly has been over the season so far, but the pair have posted strangely similar records this term.

Both men have kept six clean sheets, though Fabianski (18) has conceded seven goals more than the Brazilian.

However, the Poland international has made a whopping 62 saves compared to Ederson's 24, and has denied 77.2 per cent of the attempts he has faced. Ederson has only stopped 67.7 per cent of the shots he has faced from going in.

While Ederson has made one error leading to a goal this term, the goalkeeper once monikered 'Flappy-handski' has a perfect zero in that regard, something he will need to repeat if Swansea is to get anything from Wednesday's game.

HISTORY SAYS...

...it should be a record for City, which has won nine of the 12 Premier League fixtures between these sides, including the last three.

The Swans can take heart from having scored a goal in each of the last eight games between them, however, suggesting Guardiola's men may be doing it the hard way again after winning each of their last four league matches 2-1.