Manchester City are the firm favourites to win the Premier League title after emerging as the best team to watch in the division during the first nine matches of the 2017/18 campaign.

The Citizens were inconsistent last season and frustrating to watch at times. However, Pep Guardiola has continued to work hard on the training ground and his side are now performing at the level that everyone expected when he arrived at the Etihad Stadium.

They are five points clear at the top of the Premier League after winning eight of their nine opening fixtures.

Currently, they lead the league in terms of most goals scored and least goals conceded, which is a remarkable achievement for any side, let alone one that was criticised heavily for their defence last season.

They have excellent Draft Fantasy options across the pitch, but it is the attack that will be focused on. Any City attacker carries a lot of value at the moment as they are averaging over three goals per game.

The two that fit similar profiles are Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane. Draft Fantasy managers who own the former will have been frustrated at the weekend as he was an unused substitute, while the German contributed a goal and an assist.

Throughout the season to date, Sane has scored 61 points, which makes him one of the top-five point-scoring midfielders in the game. Meanwhile, Sterling has contributed 53, leaving him one place outside of the top-ten.

It was Saturday’s game that saw Sane jump into the top-five and move ahead of his team-mate, but is he the better option long-term?

The 21-year-old has contributed five goals and four assists in only nine matches, which is an extraordinary return. He is currently involved in a goal every 55.3 minutes. It would be unlikely that this is maintained, but it underlines the quality of the current Manchester City attack.

His underlying stats are impressive, which shows that he is regularly involved and performing to a high level to underpin his goals and assists. He is averaging 2.29 chances created and 2.82 shots per ninety minutes, showing that he is consistently involved in the play.

This season, City have been unselfish in the final third and creating chances of high xG. The pace and movement of the 21-year-old allows him to get into promising positions and in a side like City’s, he will be involved in a lot of goals as a result of his physical attributes.

Raheem Sterling has played fewer minutes than his team-mate, but he has been heavily involved in the first-team and looks a completely new player under Pep Guardiola.

The 22-year-old has contributed six goals and two assists, offering more of a direct goal threat than Sane. This season, he is averaging 1.69 chances created and 4.14 shots per ninety minutes.

These statistics emphasise that he is more likely to score, while his six goals show that he has improved markedly in the final third.

It is difficult to pick between the two, as they have both been superb for the opening stretch of games. The performance at the weekend from Sane was very impressive and that edges him ahead of Sterling at this stage.

His ability to create as well as score goals gives him an extra dimension and in a side like City, that is a huge benefit. Another reason the German is a better player to own is that he has featured in all nine matches, while Sterling has been unused in two.