Manchester City

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

Image source, Getty Images

After finishing third in the Premier League last season, seeing an early exit from the Champions League, losing the FA Cup final and suffering a shock exit at the Club World Cup, questions were rightly being asked whether Pep Guardiola and Manchester City could regroup and go again.

Was last term the start of a downfall or merely a blip?

Sunday's dismantling of champions Liverpool, extending their run to just one defeat in their past 14 games, emphatically answered any doubts.

After going under the radar in the early part of the campaign, City seem like they are back to their old selves and teams in England and across Europe will now be paying closer attention.

The side are spearheaded by the prolific Erling Haaland, who has rightly taken many of the headlines this season, but Guardiola's team is sprinkled with a supporting cast unheralded so far.

Midfielder Nico Gonzalez had a difficult start following his move from Porto in January but is starting to make the number six position his own in the absence of Rodri, while Nico O'Reilly continues to grow at left-back, keeping Mohamed Salah in his pocket at the weekend.

Phil Foden is back to his best, earning a recall to the England set-up. Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol are a formidable centre-back pairing. There is plenty for fans to be excited about.

Now comes the most demanding part of the campaign with 10 games to be played from 22 November until the end of the year, with tough trips to places such as Real Madrid, Newcastle and Crystal Palace on the agenda.

City's victory over the Reds following Arsenal's surprise draw at Sunderland cut the deficit to four points and it does not need spelling out how good Guardiola sides are at hunting down the leaders.

Come through this next period unscathed and the chase for the title will well and truly be on.

Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

This season Nico O'Reilly has very much established himself as a regular at Manchester City, making 10 Premier League appearances so far, scoring one goal and providing two assists.

It led to him picking up his first England cap on Thursday and impressing in the 2-0 win over Serbia.

Interestingly, however, left-back was not initially his calling.

Previously describing himself as a box-to-box midfielder who grew up admiring Yaya Toure and David Silva, he was deployed in the full-back role last season by manager Pep Guardiola through necessity because of injuries.

At one stage last term, City went on a run of one win in 13 games and boss Guardiola told BBC Sport the upturn in results after that "would be difficult to imagine" without O'Reilly's contributions.

"I loved the emotion he plays with," former Manchester United and England defender Phil Jones said.

"He is always controlled with his emotions for a young player, to play in those magnitude of games.

"He has got that real good state of mind - he plays on the edge, but he is calm.

England manager Thomas Tuchel added: "He seems to be very shy, he doesn't speak a lot, but he is very intelligent on the pitch and adapted so well to all the new things we demand from him."

Image source, Getty Images

Read the full article here

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City defender Nico O'Reilly says it was a "dream come true" to make his England debut against Serbia at Wembley Stadium, adding that he has already set his sights on a spot in Thomas Tuchel's official World Cup squad.

"I'm over the moon," O'Reilly told BBC Radio 5 Live after the 2-0 win. "It has been a very special night making my England debut - a dream come true for me and my family.

"I want to thank everyone who has helped me get here, my mum, stepdad and sister. For them to watch me play here at Wembley is a crazy feeling.

"I got told I would be starting earlier on in the day. We had a meeting where the squad was announced and I was in the team. I was calm and excited.

"I knew it was a big moment but I was calm, level-headed and just ready for the game.

"Everything happens for a reason and it comes at the right time. I take it game by game and day by day. I will keep working hard and keep going.

"The World Cup squad is an aim of mine. I would love to be there. I just need to keep working hard and hopefully I'll be there."

Image source, Getty Images

We wanted your suggestions for Manchester City's all-time best Premier League XI.

And you delivered!

Here's a first bunch:

Rushy: 3-4-3. Ederson, Stones, Kompany, Walker, B Silva, De Bruyne, D Silva, Rodri, Foden, Haaland, Aguero. Dangerous lack of width for sure, but more than made up for by sheer firepower up front. Great creativity, composure and energy in midfield. A defence that combines strength and pace, Walker and Vinny, with considerable technical skill, Stones and Ederson.

Martin: 4-4-2. Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Dias, Clichy. KDB, D Silva, Fernandinho, Y Toure, Aguero, Haaland. Best of the old and new. We have been fortunate at City to have the best of the best. There are so many superb players that I could list.

Milo: 4-2-3-1. Ederson, Zabaleta, Kompany, Dias, Kolarov, Y Toure, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, D Silva, Sane, Aguero. Honourable mentions: Hart, Walker, Laporte, Dunne, Rodri, B Silva, Ireland, Gundogan and Sterling. Haaland so unfortunate but Kun is in a realm beyond legend.

Timothy: 4-3-3. Donnarumma, Walker, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol, Rodri, De Bruyne, Foden, Mahrez, Haaland, Sterling. This squad is technically strong and capable of winning trophies each season.

Charlie: 4-4-2. Ederson, Cancelo, Kompany, Dias, Zabaleta, Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne, Foden, Aguero, Haaland. At peak form and fitness, there's nothing this team can't do. An honourable mention to Fernandinho missing out to Ballon d'Or winner Rodri.

Sid: 4-4-1-1. Donnarumma, Walker, Kompany, Dias, O'Reilly, Rodri, Sane, Foden, De Bruyne, Doku, Haaland. This team could be world beaters.

Image source, Getty Images

Five Premier League stadiums will host fixtures during Euro 2028.

Uefa have selected nine venues across the four host nations - England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland - to stage the 24-team tournament.

Manchester City's Etihad Stadium will host England's opening group game should Thomas Tuchel's side qualify for the competition directly.

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Villa Park, Hill Dickinson Stadium and St James' Park are the other Premier League grounds that will be used across the 51 matches overall.

The last-16 games will take place at each host stadium except Wembley, with England set to play at Newcastle United's St James' Park if they win their group, or Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium if they finish second.

Chelsea have not made a move for Real Madrid and Brazil forward Rodrygo, 24, who is interesting Manchester City and Tottenham. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

It's international break so let's have a bit of fun to pass the time.

Now we know football existed before 1992, but for the purposes of this little exercise, keep it Premier League please.

So tell us, who would be in your dream Manchester City's Premier League XI?

The debate starts here.

Send your suggestions

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Last month, Pep Guardiola described Rayan Cherki as "one of the huge talents I have ever seen" and now Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe has had his say on the Manchester City forward.

France captain Mbappe has played with some sensational footballers during his illustrious career including Lionel Messi, Neymar and Karim Benzema.

But speaking before his side's World Cup qualifier against Ukraine on Thursday, Mbappe said: "Cherki is a special talent. He has a gift that he is exploiting, this innate and very spectacular talent."

Cherki scored on his City debut against Wolves but was ruled out for six weeks with a thigh injury. However, since returning, he has chalked up two goals and two assists - both for Erling Haaland - in his past four games.

Mbappe added: "He has integrated very well into the group, just as he integrated very well at Manchester City, which is not easy.

"We can see that he has already created a special connection with his number nine."

Mbappe and Cherki could face each other on 10 December, when City travel to Real Madrid in the group phase of the Champions League.

Freddie Pye
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

About this time last season, I spoke of the natural traits and abilities of Matheus Nunes - such traits and abilities that are incredibly difficult to find in the game. Pace in transition and defensive recovery, power in physical duels, and an eye for a cross-field ball or cross into the box.

Fast forward to the weekend, and the Portugal midfielder-turned-full-back played a crucial role in Manchester City's win over Liverpool providing an assist for Erling Haaland with a remarkable ball into the penalty area from wide, and defensively remained outstanding against the visitors' attacking threat.

The same applies to Jeremy Doku. When City signed the Belgian from Rennes in the summer of 2023, it was blatantly obvious to many that this was a wide player with immense talent - perhaps abilities in attack that no other player within the game can replicate.

However, the 23-year-old has somewhat struggled to add end product to his output, despite being unstoppable in one-versus-one situations or attacking phases over five and 10-yard spaces.

Doku's showing against the reigning Premier League champions on Sunday felt like his ultimate crowning moment, and a real turning point for a player who has one of the highest ceilings in the City squad.

IIt is perhaps a little too early to throw him into the conversation as a future Ballon d'Or winner, but given the profile of players usually put forward for football's top individual prize, it is not beyond the realm of possibility in the next decade.

Pep Guardiola said after the game that Doku would never be a top scorer for Manchester City, and perhaps that is largely down to the team's set-up that is geared towards feeding Haaland.

But when games are tight, and when Doku has small pockets of space to operate in, the lightning winger could find himself in goalscoring opportunities more often.

At a time when City are rebuilding and transitioning, Doku - alongside the likes of Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden - could be the man to carry this Guardiola era into its latest, exciting attacking phase.

Find more from Freddie Pye at City Xtra, external

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Sunday was a grand old day for Pep Guardiola in every way. It was his 1,000th game as a manager and his team gave him the present of an exceptional display against one of their great rivals.‌

Erling Haaland's opener had his boss as excited as I have ever seen him. It was close to the perfect Guardiola goal, passing out from beside their own corner flag. Every outfield payer got a touch; they kept the ball for what felt like an eternity if you were a Liverpool fan before Haaland's header eventually left keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili helpless.

That tight passing build-up was a metaphor for the game. It resembled an elongated rondo training drill, where the Liverpool midfield looked like it was outnumbered two to one.

The complete confidence to play out of tight situations, to take the pass when marked but still retain possession and to trick or dribble out of trouble if a pass wasn't on, was bordering on perfection in that first half from City.‌

That style has always been the base of Guardiola's philosophy and here it was back again for 45 minutes, just like the grand old days of Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva et al in their pomp.

Maybe that, as much as the 3-0 dismissal of a close rival, is what everyone else should be concerned about.

Sign up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

This season, Manchester City have covered more ground than any other side in the Premier League at 1268.7km - An average of 115.3 km per game.

In comparison, seven teams ran more than City in the top flight last term, with Pep Guardiola's side averaging 109.8km per game. This means they are running 5.5km per game more so far this campaign.

In terms of sprints, only Nottingham Forest and Southampton averaged fewer per game than City last season (127), whereas only five teams have sprinted more per match than the Manchester side this campaign (149) - that is 22 more than last time out.

When focusing on their win at home to Liverpool on Sunday, Manchester City ran almost nine kilometres more than than the Reds (118.0 km v 109.2 km) - only twice has a team outrun their opponents more in a Premier League game this season.

It is easier to outrun an opponent when they are a player short, so when we only consider matches without a red card, only once has a team outrun their opponents more in a top flight match this term than City did against Liverpool - which was the former champions themselves in their 4-0 opening day win at Wolves.

The three instances where a team has outrun their opponents by more than eight kilometres in a game of 11v11 this season have all been Guardiola's side.

Sin bins? Bonus points? Two goals if you score from distance?

Imagine a world in which you could reinvent football.

It's a dream, of course. Just a bit of fun. But stick with us.

What if you had the power to change any of the game's laws and potentially bring to an end countless hours of discussion about handball, offside, video assistant referees, or anything else you want to?

Some of BBC Sport's familiar football faces have offered their own potential rule changes.

Watch them above or read more here

Former Liverpool, Stoke City and Scotland midfielder Charlie Adam has hailed Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola as a "genius", adding that his side can "never be ruled out" of a Premier League title race.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Adam said: "Pep Guardiola is such a good manager because he wants to evolve.

"He has understood what the challenges of the Premier League are and he is willing to change.

"But he has still kept his real strong principles in terms of how he wants to play and how he wants to build.

"Their start to the season wasn't probably what they expected or wanted.

"You can always see them winning 10 or 12 games in a row, without doubt."

• Not a Man City fan? Find and follow your Premier League club

However, ex-Premier League striker Chris Sutton does not believe City are "out of the woods" just yet.

"I still think there is a massive overreliance on Erling Haaland," Sutton explained.

"He has scored 14 Premier League goals so far this season and their next top scorer is on one goal, so if anything happens to him it would still be a concern."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Manchester City and Real Madrid are both interested in Liverpool and Hungary midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, 25. (AS - in Spanish), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City might have made a statement of intent in the title race with their 3-0 win against reigning champions Liverpool last night and moved four points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal before the international break.

But they are still some way off catching the Gunners, according to Opta's Premier League predictions.

The Opta supercomputer's latest update has Pep Guardiola's City finishing about seven points behind Arsenal at the end of the season.

Opta still gives Arsenal 63.6% chance of winning the title this season with City only having a 22.9% chance of becoming champions in the latest set of simulations.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have only a 7% probability of defending their title with Chelsea marked at 2.75%.

Predicted points after 38 games:

Arsenal - 80.19

Man City - 73.50

Liverpool - 68.23

Chelsea - 63.34

Aston Villa - 60.76

Crystal Palace - 59.32

Man Utd - 56.37

Bournemouth - 56.31

Brighton - 55.93

Tottenham - 54.97

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City's departed executive Txiki Begiristain has ranked first in a study of sporting directors based on the value added to their club's squad from incoming transfers.

Premier League figures Dougie Freedman, Ross Wilson and Phil Giles also ranked inside the top 10 in the review carried out by industry advisors Transfer Room.

City's spending in the transfer market during Begiristain's tenure at Etihad Stadium has been well-documented, but according to figures, the Spanish transfer specialist added a net value of €455m (£399m) to the squad from 23 players signed at a cost of €875m (£768m) over a 10-year period.

Having joined City in 2012, the 61-year-old left the club earlier this year and was replaced by Hugo Viana.

When he left, chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said: "Txiki is a legend, and I don't use that word lightly. Wat Txiki has accomplished, has been integral in the success of this club part.

"If you're going to go to the Oxford Dictionary and search for 'football director', I think the image and picture of Txiki should be the image that appears."

Freedman, who left Crystal Palace for a position in Saudi Arabia earlier this year, placed third in the study - behind Begiristain and Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director Timmo Hardung.

Current Newcastle sporting director Wilson placed fifth with Brentford's Phil Giles in seventh.

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy described Jeremy Doku's display against Liverpool as probably "the best game he has ever had in a Manchester City shirt", with the winger a constant source of danger in Sunday's emphatic 3-0 win.

City directed most of their attacks down the left flank to get the Belgian running at Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley, who effectively shackled Real Madrid danger man Vinicius Jr in midweek but found Doku an altogether tougher proposition.

Doku had 11 touches in the opposition box, at least five more than any other player from either side, and also led the way in several other metrics, such as shots on target and chances created.

He also had seven successful dribbles, the third-highest figure by anyone in a Premier League match this season.

Statisticians Opta, meanwhile, highlighted that Doku is the first player to score, win at least 10 duels, complete seven dribbles, create three chances and have three shots on target in a Premier League game since Eden Hazard in 2019.

It was undoubtedly a virtuoso performance. The challenge for Doku is to hit these heady heights on a consistent basis.

How good can Doku be? Make your choice here

We asked for your views on Sunday's Premier League game between Manchester City and Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Stella: This was an exceptional performance by City and the result accurately reflected their dominance against a very ordinary Liverpool. Jeremy Doku was virtually unplayable, helped no doubt by Mohamed Salah's reluctance to track back and support a run-ragged Conor Bradley. Big shoutouts too to Matheus Nunes, both Nico's (O'Reilly and Gonzalez) plus Pep Guardiola for his selection of Bernardo Silva, who controlled the game's tempo superbly. Arsenal should be very nervous!

Monksie: Excellent aside from a few misplaced passes the team is usually accurate with. Had the same feeling with Doku's goal as I had for Jack Grealish scoring the fourth against Liverpool in April 2023 - the best player on the pitch deserves a goal and thankfully in both cases that's exactly what happened.

Paul: Absolutely unbelievable performance by City. Erling Haaland got his obligatory goal and Jeremy Doku was outstanding. The whole team looked like they had gelled and we made Liverpool look ordinary. Really was men against boys .

Rob: I've been quite critical of City this season, I thought some of the players may not be good enough to challenge. I was wrong. Look at what Pep has done with Nunes and O'Reilly... both midfielders but under his guidance and coaching, they are now two quality defenders who also make a huge contribution going forward. Guardiola is an absolute genius and I do believe he has his mojo back.

Harry: Without disrespect to Liverpool, that game was not even remotely close. Last season we'd have missed that penalty, thrown a tantrum and capitulated but this time we just got better and better. Haaland doing Haaland things again - he's allergic to scoring outside of open play. Doku, oh my - the man should have a red carpet laid from his car to the door of the training ground. his best performance in recent memory and never looked beaten. Couldn't be more proud of these lads. O'Reilly had Salah's number completely and Gonzalez is a mini Rodri. We absolutely played Liverpool off the park and thoroughly deserved the win. Good luck to the Reds for the rest of the season, but this was City's day.

Richard: Absolutely superb result. For the best part of the season we've played very conservative football and still picked up points. Not great to watch but we went for the jugular and it was so much better to watch. Fully deserved result and a statement that we are back. Keep looking over your shoulders Arsenal, as it's this time of year we start the unbeaten run.

• Not a City fan? Find and follow your club

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku said his side are "seeing the fruits" of their hard work after beating last season's Premier League winners Liverpool in a dominant 3-0 victory.

Doku scored City's third goal but caused Liverpool defender Conor Bradley problems throughout Sunday's game.

"I'm grateful for this performance," he told BBC Radio Manchester. "I'm grateful for the win. As a team we played well from the start against a great opponent.

"We lost a couple of games [at the start of the season], but we knew we were building towards something and today we saw the fruits of it.

"Every game we are going to get better. Everybody knows their tasks and we are delivering it."

Doku played his 100th game for Manchester City on the same day boss Pep Guardiola took charge of his1,000th match as a manager.

"All I can do it be grateful and and hope for more," added the Belgian.

Listen to more from Doku and defender Nico O'Reilly on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker had high praise for Manchester City on the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast after Sunday's dominant 3-0 win over Liverpool.

"City were phenomenal and deserved to win," he said. "That was because of their application and the quality they showed.

"It was the Jeremy Doku show. He was absolutely sensational. He has taken his game to a whole new level. He plays with maturity, a lot more discipline and impacts the game by creating goal opportunities.

"He is playing with a smile on his face and a bit of an arrogance in himself because he knows he can affect the game. That will strike fear into a lot of teams in the Premier League because it is scary how full of confidence he is.

"All over the pitch, City were the better side. It was the most balanced City have looked in a while because they kept their lines tight when usually thy leave themselves vulnerable with that high line.

"Liverpool were sloppy and they never really looked a threat."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

Jeremy Doku was absolutely brilliant for Manchester City in their 3-0 win on Sunday, but Liverpool's tactics were the reason he was able to run riot down their right.

Without Mohamed Salah tracking back, Arne Slot's side were always so vulnerable down that flank and I felt sorry for Conor Bradley, who was trying to stop Doku but had Nico O'Reilly to worry about too.

Even if Liverpool had found some better balance, and had a winger who gave Bradley more defensive support or condensed City's space, then with the way Doku was playing he would still have been almost impossible to stop.

Doku was a pleasure to watch, irrespective of who you support and who you wanted to win. You had to admire his skill, pace, strength and bravery - and his goal was just amazing.

The way Liverpool were set up, though, actually helped him shine.

He was electric and the game's star man. This was the best I have seen him play in a City shirt, but Salah not being asked to defend made it so easy for him.

It became a really productive area of the pitch for City, and was one of the reasons they won so comfortably in the end.

Read more of Murphy's analysis from the game here