Manchester City

On the eve of the 2024-25 Premier League season, we asked 30 BBC TV and radio pundits to pick their top four, with explanations for their selections.

Nineteen of the 30 selected Manchester City as their title winners, while only one thought they would finish outside the top two.

Ex-England defender Anita Asante believes City will win a fifth successive title - she said: "City are just an unstoppable and unflappable force. They have won six of the past seven Premier League titles and four consecutively, which is already unprecedented.

"City are a club with an unbelievable pipeline of talent and always seem to maintain their cool, whether they are being chased or they are the chasers."

Former England international Sue Smith picked Arsenal to win the league with City, but said of Pep Guardiola's side: "Of course they could win it again, because they are just so relentless.

"Whenever you think they may be weaker, Guardiola always seems able to find another gear or a solution. Julian Alvarez will be a loss but we've said that before when they've lost a player, and Pep always finds a way, either by bringing someone in or using another player who is already there to fill the gap.

"City constantly evolve and I expect that again. With a world-class manager and squad, they will be tough to stop."

Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman also tipped Arsenal to finish ahead of City.

He said: "City to finish in second place is a statement that doesn't seem to sit right does it? But can they keep up what they've achieved in recent seasons? The answer is yes, but with only one major signing - Brazilian winger Savinho - so far, and no cover for the brilliant Rodri, a reliance on him to play all the games may take its toll.

"Plus I think the Champions League has to be City's main priority this season and when it comes to the run-in they may have to sacrifice the Premier League. Arsenal, in contrast, will be all out for the Premier League."

Who did our pundits pick as their Premier League top four? Read more here

Mike Minay
BBC Radio Manchester reporter

Image source, Getty Images

For a period this summer, it looked like Ederson might be departing Manchester City for a new challenge.

It also looked like Stefan Ortega could leave for a challenge of being a "number one" again.

The outcome is that neither have left and are preparing to start as Manchester City's first-choice goalkeepers for the new season.

Assuming nothing changes, Ederson will be the goalkeeper for Premier League and Champions League matches, Ortega will deputise when needed and play in the domestic cups.

Former City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart is a new pundit for Match of the Day this season, so I put the question to him about the qualities of both and if he has a preference.

"I don't think there's any getting away from the fact they're both trusted by one of the greatest teams in the world, so immediately that puts them on a level," he said.

"Ederson has been the perfect goalkeeper for Pep Guardiola's style of play.

"I think what he does behind the scenes - I don't mean on the training ground - on the pitch, for the games to go how they go is due to his rhythm, his confidence, ability, and trust in his players.

"City wouldn't flow like they do without all those things.

"Ortega has been exceptional," he added. "The boys can't speak highly enough of him."

Hart recognises that it is hard to look past Ederson being the better of the two but said City will know that, should anything happen to the Brazilian, they are in safe hands - pun intended!

"They'll bask in the confidence and happiness that they've got two goalkeepers who rate so highly and can do everything on a football pitch," he continued.

"They can both make saves, both comfortable with their feet. A real mark of both of them is whatever is going on on the pitch, they stay confident, consistent and trusted and execute a team effort."

Listen to more from Joe Hart on BBC Sounds

Listen to Total Sport on BBC Radio Manchester every weeknight at 18:00 and listen to live commentary of Chelsea v Manchester City live on BBC Radio Manchester on Sunday (16:30 BST kick-off).

Charlotte Coates
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Chelsea (kick-off 16:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Guardiola expects midfielder Oscar Bobb to be out for "three or four months" with a leg injury he suffered in training earlier this week. The Norway international has gone to Barcelona for surgery. "We feel so sad for him," said the City boss.

• The champions will be without Rodri, who only recently returned to training after winning Euro 2024 with Spain: "He is in training. I haven't seen him yet. He feels good. We'll have to see how he feels after training. No chance [on squad for Sunday]."

• One player Guardiola can now call upon is full-back Joao Cancelo: "He's training with us, yes. Maybe stay, maybe go on loan. He loves to play football and train. We will see."

• On if Cancelo has a future at City: "It can happen, yes. In training, we say hi and we talk. In the end, if he stays, we will treat him like the other players with respect and try to make the best of the huge qualities that he has."

• On Kalvin Phillips leaving for Ipswich: "I think it's already done, [but] you never know until it's happened. He decided to go there. You have to have minutes and recover. Play, play, play. Maybe in the future, there is a chance to come back here."

• On former colleague and new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca's achievements at Leicester City: "The job Enzo did at Leicester belongs to him and his staff. My influence is zero on Leicester getting promoted again. I didn't score one goal or make any saves. I give info and they learn. It's on both sides and the success of the people together belongs absolutely to them."

• Asked if he had any advice for the Stamford Bridge club, Guardiola said: "My advice is to give him time and it will work. All managers need time. I don't know if Chelsea is the place to do this but it will work if they give him time. This is my feeling."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news here

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Pep Guardiola should be able to update on the extent of Oscar Bobb's injury when he speaks to the media this lunchtime.

The Norway midfielder suffered a fracture to his leg in training earlier this week.

City were considering whether to send Bobb to Barcelona for surgery.

Given Julian Alvarez has now joined Atletico Madrid, Guardiola must decide whether to bring in attacking replacements, which presumably extend beyond the move for West Ham's FA Youth Cup winner Divin Mubama.

Guardiola is notoriously coy about transfer talk.

He may be on safer ground talking about City's attempt to win a fifth straight title.

All the key lines from Guardiola will be on this page later, and go to our live page for the best of the quotes from all of Friday's Premier League news conferences

On the latest episode of the BBC's Planet Premier League podcast, former Premier League midfielders Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Petit discussed this season's contenders for the title.

On Manchester City, Fabregas said: "Can they do it? Of course they can do it in terms of the quality they've got. They have an outstanding team. I still think Arsenal will be the team to look out for in the Premier League this year once again to fight with City."

Petit added: "I'm not saying that City are not ready to win five titles in a row, but that's going to be very difficult for them to retain the crown.

"For me, this is so important for Arsenal and [Mikel] Arteta this season, and especially for the players. If you want your players to follow you, to get confidence in you, you need get silverware. It's been like this for the past two or three years and I think they need to win something this season."

Listen to the full episode here on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Manuel Akanji says you "get into that feeling" of winning when you first come to Manchester City.

The 29-year-old joined from Borussia Dortmund in September 2022 and has made 79 appearances across all competitions.

In that time, he has won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, FA Cup, Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup and he scored the winning penalty in Saturday's Community Shield win.

"It [the standard] is set by everybody," he told Football Focus. "Everyone here is here to win titles.

"You feel it in a changing room and from the whole club that the goal is to win as many titles as possible.

"You get so many players that are experienced and know how it is to be in this type of race when it gets to the knockout stages."

Since his arrival, the Swiss international has played in a number of roles across the backline and credits manager Pep Guardiola with helping him to adapt.

"When you turn professional, you think you learn the most of your things when you when you're young, when you turn 22 or 23, when you say you are still a talent," Akanji added.

"But I think even for older players like me... I joined the club when I was 27 and I learned so many new things that I didn't know before.

"[Guardiola] brings a different perspective. Thinking about football and thinking about situations, tactically I think that's where people improve the most."

Watch the full interview on Football Focus on BBC One or iPlayer, 17 August at 12:00 BST

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has scored 63 goals in 66 Premier League games, winning the Golden Boot in both of his campaigns with City so far.

He has also scored twice in both of his appearances on the opening weekend of a season (v West Ham in 2022-23 and Burnley in 2023-24), with no player ever doing so in three different seasons.

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Did the weekend's Community Shield showcase tells us much about the coming season for Manchester United or Manchester City?

I got a little caught up in the wide attacker storyline rather than the wider narrative. Oscar Bobb and Jeremy Doku alongside the talents of Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva and now new-boy Savinho are making it look like £100m worth of winger in Jack Grealish could be surplus to requirements.

Only Jack can change that narrative, but it is not looking great considering his goals and assists return last season. Injuries and his age are suddenly not in his favour either.

‌City may be bursting with wingers, but there is still a need for a back-up striker when Erling Haaland gets tired or injured, which he will. With the money available to spend from Julian Alvarez's departure, I am sure they will get another striker soon.

‌Do they need yet another world-class player up top? I suspect Pep Guardiola and the team have more options than you might think. They could go for a fine technical addition, which is obviously the house style at the Etihad. They might also be tempted by a good old fashioned goal-sniffer.

‌There are quite a few centre forwards out there who are basically goalscorers, and little else. Each one thinks the same thing: 'Put me up front for City, with their creativity and even I could score in every other game.'

‌There may be something in that, so keep your eyes peeled for the Haaland back-up plan, it could be among the most crucial acquisitions of the season.

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

It's that time of the year again - the annual act of foolishness in which I try to predict the outcome of the 2024-25 season for all 20 Premier League clubs.

Man City - Champions

Think about backing against them. Then think again.

Manchester City's relentless hunger for success under manager Pep Guardiola brought them a sixth Premier League title in seven seasons last term, and a record fourth in succession, despite Arsenal's excellence and consistency.

All the same world-class quality remains, allied to the generational goal machine that is Erling Haaland. City will also have power to add armed with their vast resources plus another £81.5m after the departure of Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid.

Young stars Oscar Bobb and James McAtee have shown they are ready to step up to new levels this season to strengthen Guardiola's already formidable hand even further. It is a daunting prospect for their rivals.

There will be a season when Manchester City do not win the Premier League - I'm just not sure this will be it.

Read all of Phil's predictions here

Mike Minay
BBC Radio Manchester reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Former Manchester City and England goalkeeper, and now Match of the Day pundit, Joe Hart has been speaking to BBC Radio Manchester before the new season.

We had a good 10 minutes talking about the role of the pundit and what he hopes to bring to Saturday nights, but there was also no escaping his old club and their chances this season.

"Right now, they are deserved favourites for the Premier League They've given no reason why you shouldn't back them," Hart said.

"But I have to point out what a beautiful, amazing league [it is]. So many twists and turns. So much quality. So many teams put in so much effort. So many resources to knock them off that perch.

"I think it's going to be an incredible ride."

A big question for the Blues is whether they have the depth themselves to sustain a title charge and compete for other major silverware.

"All will be in hand, that's what I know about that club," he responded.

Manchester City recently sold Julian Alvarez for a club record fee. It is a decision they "wouldn't have made lightly" according to Hart, but many fans are questioning a lack of competent back-ups to Erling Haaland and Rodri.

"Knowing what I know, knowing how they work and respecting how they work, I trust them to be good in the positions that they need to be, have the depth and put themselves in the best possible position."

Listen to Total Sport on BBC Radio Manchester every weeknight at 18:00 and listen to every Manchester City game, home and away, live on BBC Radio Manchester.

Manchester City defender Kyle Walker says he was "massively shocked" that team-mate Jack Grealish was not selected for England's Euro 2024 squad in the summer.

Gareth Southgate's side reached the final in Germany before losing to Spain and missing out on lifting the trophy for the first time.

Despite his belief that the midfielder should have been selected, Walker understands the manager had to make a "really tough decision".

Listen to the full episode of You'll Never Beat Kyle Walker on BBC Sounds

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport football statistician

Unsurprisingly, the champions were excellent across the board last season… but not flawless.

It was the first season under Pep Guardiola that Manchester City were not the best team in the Premier League in terms of expected goal difference – which measures how well teams create chances at one end and limit them at the other – although obviously they topped the table that matters most.

Compared to their own incredible standards, the defence was not as strong as in previous title-winning seasons under Guardiola, as the champions conceded more goals, faced more shots and had a higher xG against figure than in any other season where they went on to lift the trophy under his management.