We are statistically but it's more than just that. I've watched football for 50 years and City in the season just ended were the best team I have seen in this country.
Most of the reasons put forward why City are not the GOAT are inane rubbish that is easily dismissed. They are often a combination of bile and bollocks. After City won at Everton, one comment from an Arsenal fan was that this City side had been bought unlike the Invincibles of 2003-4 that Wenger built. I suppose Terry Henry came free with a packet of Frosties and Dennis Bergkamp doesn’t count because he was a Bruce Rioch purchase; likewise, Sol Campbell was playing for free, being a Bosman. Jens Lehmann of course was a native of Islington… Hang on a minute, what the hell has how players were acquired got to do with how they rate as a team? Absolutely sweet FA.
The most compelling argument against this City side’s greatness is that its only got one trophy winning season to offer as evidence. A case can be made that true greatness for a football team should encompass success over an extended period but isn’t it funny that when people talk about other contenders it’s the Invincibles, the treble winning side of 1998/9 and the 2004/5 Chelsea side; in other words, references to teams in a particular season. Those seasons were not isolated successes for the respective clubs, but they were pinnacles and those teams were not unchanged from season to season.
When looking at the pre-Premier League era; I have long considered the best English club side (certainly that I’ve seen) prior to that point to be:
Bruce Grobbelaar
Phil Neal
Alan Kennedy
Mark Lawrenson
Alan Hansen
Kenny Dalglish
Sammy Lee
Craig Johnston
Ian Rush
Ronnie Whelan
Graeme Souness
Now that is a side that changed little over an extended, very successful period; although that did arguably peak in 1983/4 with a treble of the league, League Cup and European Cup. A major achievement but they did not play football as beautiful and sophisticated as City. And just look at where the players hail from – all from these Isles aside from a random Aussie. City have a huge advantage by comparison that they can use players from football nations who simply produce more talented players than the UK and Ireland.
Given a Tardis and an unbiased referee, I think the current City side would get the better of that Liverpool team. Like every other team though, they cannot match the 100 points total.