Manchester City

Image source, PA Media

England full-back Kyle Walker has said he is blocking out any "outside noise" during Euro 2024 and joked that the person whose opinion of his performances he values the most is his mother.

Before Thursday's group game against Denmark, Walker and England manager Gareth Southgate were asked at a news conference about how the team are engaged with traditional and social media during the tournament in Germany.

Southgate said there is probably a mix of some players who "take a similar approach" to him in not looking at it, while others "will definitely look at stuff" - but he added: "Our assessment of the game is the most important and we're never slow to pull things up that aren't right or aren't good enough."

Manchester City captain Walker said: "I don't read it at all. I feel that we all can play football. I call it the top 10% that's going to separate you from being a very good player or an average player.

"If you have outside noise - whether that be positive or negative - people take it in different ways.

"I'd rather not see it and just concentrate on what's in camp, what the gaffer says, mainly what my mum says - my mum always tells me I have a good game! So I'll listen to her and go from that really."

Image source, Reuters

There has been much said and written about Phil Foden's display in England's 1-0 win over Serbia on Sunday, but stats from Uefa show he covered the second-greatest distance of any player during the first round of group matches at Euro 2024.

Only Serbia's Sergey Milinkovic-Savic (13.9km) covered more ground than Manchester City's Foden (13.2km), while England colleagues Declan Rice of Arsenal (12.9km) and Kieran Trippier of Newcastle United (12.3km) were fifth and eighth in the list respectively.

City's Bernardo Silva was seventh with a total of 12.7km in Portugal's 2-1 win over Czech Republic, while Czech captain Tomas Soucek of West Ham was 10th, covering 12.3km.

The fixtures for the new Premier League season are out and we asked you for your predictions on where Manchester City will be after 10 games.

Here is a selection of your comments:

Chris: We'll be in the top two after 10 games.

Carl: It's quite a tough start for the champions, therefore I can see them dropping points in the first 10 games. I am predicting them losing twice and drawing a couple of other games. But as long as they are in the top eight, the other clubs know they are still to be feared!

Morena: After 10 games, City will be in third but go on to lift the trophy.

Abdullah: I am really happy with this. We have an easier start than we did in the previous seasons so, instead of switching on in the second part of the season, maybe we can be amazing throughout. Potential Treble or maybe even, dare I say it, quadruple? A bit too early to assume.

Simon: Probably not top, but at the end of the season when it counts, champions again. Five in a row.

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea and champions Manchester City will open their Premier League campaigns with a meeting at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, 18 August.

Chelsea are winless in their past six Premier League meetings with City (D2 L4) since a 2-1 away win in May 2021, but contributed to a thrilling 4-4 in this same fixture last season.

Since losing 1-0 in the Champions League final in May 2021, City are unbeaten in their past nine meetings with Chelsea in all competitions (W7 D2) - their joint-longest run without defeat against the Blues in their history (also nine between 1936 and 1949).

Enzo Maresca's first game in charge of the Blues will be the first time Chelsea have begun a top-flight campaign with a match against the reigning champions since 1971-72, when they lost 3-0 against Arsenal at Highbury.

City have won their opening Premier League match in 12 of the past 13 seasons, with the exception being a 1-0 loss at Tottenham in 2021-22.

Now the fixtures for the new Premier League season are out, it is time to start looking ahead to your club's 2024-25 campaign and all the key matches.

So, where do you think Manchester City will be after the first 10 games?

Let us know, external

According to Opta, Manchester City have the easiest final 10 fixtures of the season.

Aftrer the 15 March, they will only face three teams that finished in the top half of last season's table - Crystal Palace, Manchester United and Aston Villa.

West Ham have the next easiest run-in, again only facing three top-half teams in their final 10 games - Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester United.

At the other end of the spectrum, Fulham have the toughest run-in, with six of their final 10 games coming against sides who qualified for Europe last season.

Image source, Getty Images

Let's face it, for Manchester City, the fixture list represents the obstacle that stands between them and immortality.

No team had ever won four league titles in a row before last season. How long would it take another club to win five if that is what they are to achieve in 2024-25?

Of more importance is the question mark over Pep Guardiola.

Will this be the last season at City for one of the greatest managers in the entire history of the game?

I was mesmerised by 'The Last Dance' the documentary about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls and their era of dominance - is next season going to be Pep's equivalent?

City start with a trip to face a Chelsea side managed by Pep's old coach Enzo Maresca.

It will be a fascinating duel. But not as fascinating as the season as a whole.

Manchester City's Premier League fixtures for the 2024-25 season have arrived and if you haven't seen them yet you can find them here.

City have early home games against Ipswich Town and Brentford, they face local rivals Manchester United at home on 14 December, while last season's runners-up Arsenal visit the Etihad on 21 September.

On Boxing Day it's set to be Everton at home, while the return Manchester derby is scheduled for 5 April.

Pep Guardiola's side end with games against Southampton, Bournemouth and Fulham.

Fixtures for the Premier League opening weekend have been released.

The 2024-25 season will begin at Old Trafford with Manchester United welcoming Fulham.

Ipswich Town's 22 years away from the top flight will come to an end with a visit from Arne Slot's Liverpool, while fellow newly promoted sides Southampton and Leicester will visit Newcastle and welcome Tottenham respectively.

Elsewhere, champions Manchester City will begin their quest for a fifth Premier League title in a row by travelling to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in Enzo Maresca's first game in charge.

The games will take place between 16-19 August.

Manchester City will begin their 2024-25 Premier League campaign against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The match will take place on Sunday, 18 August at 16:30 BST.

You can find all of City's fixtures here

Manchester City are prepared to go into next season without making any new signings, unless a player asks to leave. (ESPN), external

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

Image source, Getty Images

The 2024-25 Premier League fixtures are being released on Tuesday at 09:00 BST - and you will see them on the BBC Sport website and app as soon as they are announced.

What should you look out for?

By chief football news reporter Simon Stone

Matches around European games

This will be even more keenly assessed than usual given the four clubs in the Champions League and two in the Europa League will have eight first-phase games rather than six. Long trips before or after European games do not go down well with managers.

Matches around internationals

There are international breaks in September, October, November and March. In Europe, the first three of those are for Nations League fixtures. World Cup qualifiers in Europe start in March 2025, though in South America and Asia they are being played in all four windows.

England managers tend not to be keen on blockbuster league matches immediately before a break and club bosses are equally unhappy at having to play key matches after them when so many players get back on Thursday or Friday.

Festive fixtures

To allow for a mid-August start, there will not be a winter break this season. The Premier League has assured clubs they will not be asked to play twice in less than 60 hours at any point over Christmas and New Year. That rules out any club playing on 26 December also having a game on 28 December. There will be no Christmas Eve fixture in the 2024-25 season.

As the FA Cup third round has been moved from its traditional home on the first weekend of January to the second, it does seem there will be four rounds of fixtures over the festive period - starting on 21 December and ending on 5 January.

New managers

Four Premier League clubs already have new managers - Fabian Hurzeler (Brighton), Enzo Maresca (Chelsea), Arne Slot (Liverpool) and Julen Lopetegui (West Ham) - with a fifth to come at Leicester. So that's a new era beginning at 25% of clubs before a ball has been kicked. Russell Martin will take charge of a top-flight game for the first time after Southampton's promotion.

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards and Leicester City centre-back Conor Coady discuss Phil Foden's role in the England side as they reflect on Sunday's win over Serbia, and whether he should still start if he is not in his favoured central position.

Listen to the full bonus episode of Football Daily on BBC Sounds

Hear further reaction to England's 1-0 win over Serbia, including more debate about how to get the best from Manchester City's Phil Foden at Euro 2024, on the latest episode of Football Daily.

Listen now on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha has called for some "perspective" from supporters and pundits who have been "making a comparison" between England midfielders Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham.

Speaking to BBC Sport's Simon Stone, Onuoha said of Foden's display in Sunday's win over Serbia: "Attacking-wise, it was nowhere near his best performance. However, if he hadn't been defensively good, I think England would have suffered.

"To keep a clean sheet at the Euros and not give up massive chances, that takes a collective. I think the collective deserves to be given credit and there also needs to be perspective.

"They will be doing things within the games that are geared towards winning. One of his best touches in the game came when he defended a cross, brought it down and then just volleyed it 60 yards forward."

Former England Under-21 defender Onuoha also criticised the negativity that he believes surrounds the national team, stating: "I think we have a lot of critique for a nation that hasn't really done well, overall, on this stage.

"Considering how many times we have said 'it needs to be this way' or 'it needs to be that way' - it never seems to have worked out up to this point.

"I think the critique comes from anxiety because the fans want to feel comfortable when watching a game of football.

"It is always a case of 'why aren't we beating these guys by more [goals]?' Well, realistically, if you look at international football, that just does not happen."

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions after England started their Euro 2024 campaign with a 1-0 win over Serbia.

A big topic of discussion is the performance of Phil Foden, who operated in a different role to that he excelled in so frequently for Manchester City last season.

Christian asked: Lots of talk about Foden and how ineffective he is for England compared to Manchester City. In the first half he seemed to be moving around the pitch more freely and only in the second half did he "stick" to the left. Without being too negative and looking at the bigger picture, do you think that is again down to Gareth Southgate? Go a goal up and in the second half stick to the position and defend - the "have what we hold" mentality? Only the first game, but surely this is more proof that, under Gareth, England will never win because of his natural defensive mindset.

Phil answered: It's a familiar argument this one, Christian, and England did seem to lose their way in the second half, allowing Serbia to apply pressure leading to one or two worrying moments. It was actually a bit frustrating to see.

As for Foden, I think Southgate’s argument is that it is not so much about what his starting position is in the game but where he finishes - in other words he can roam inside to more dangerous positions if the situation allows. He is not told to stay on the left flank and not move. Why would Southgate do that?

I agree with those who say Foden also needs to be more assertive with England. Jude Bellingham is an increasingly dominant figure through sheer force of personality and superb ability - and I believe Foden can be exactly the same. He is too good not to. He just hasn't shown it yet.

As for Southgate, let's see how things pan out. It was the first game of a major tournament. They can be tricky but England won - not spectacularly I admit - but they won.

Follow McNulty's Q&A here

Image source, Getty Images

Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha says he is "not panicking" about Phil Foden, despite the criticism of his performance against Serbia for England on Sunday.

Speaking to BBC Sport's Simon Stone, Onuoha said: "It wasn't his best game but not every game is going to be like that [in terms of opposition].

"One thing we lack from our TV screens is perspective. The key difference I see between himself and Jude Bellingham is that Bellingham is more physically imposing. Some of the things he does, Foden can not do.

"Foden's strengths are in the final third and when he is driving with the ball. Playing on the left is not his natural position, but as far as football goes, sometimes you just don't have a good game.

"I am not panicking about him."

Image source, Getty Images

Phil Foden had arguably his best season yet for Manchester City in 2023-24 and many put him down to be the first name on the team sheet for England this summer.

But in struggling to make an impact against Serbia on Sunday, questions have once again been raised about how the 24-year-old midfielder can reproduce his club form for his country.

"We need to find a way to get the best out of him," said BBC pundit Micah Richards when analysing the match. "At Manchester City we know it is choreographed with Pep and the system and the movements, but it makes me sad when we see a player of this quality just in and out of games.

"This season he has been immense, every week the stuff he is doing with Man City, we need to see that in an England shirt."

Questions have often centred on Foden's position.

Image source, Opta

Image source, Opta

As shown in the heatmaps from his last Premier League match and the Euro 2024 game against Serbia, he appears to have more freedom behind the main forward for Pep Guardiola's side, while under Gareth Southgate he is more regularly deployed to the left with Jude Bellingham operating centrally.

Former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas, however, feels it is up to Foden to get the best out of himself for England.

"A player of this class, level and talent at times doesn't even need to be told by the coach what he needs to do," he said. "Phil needs to want it more than the rest and it showed [against Serbia] that Jude Bellingham is a little bit above him in this regard.

"Foden needs to get that personality back and do what he does at Manchester City."

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand agreed, adding: "Jude Bellingham has come into this team and his body language has said to everyone 'give me the ball or I will go nuts' - that is his attitude.

"Phil Foden has seen that and his personality is not like that and he is allowing someone else to come in and be the dominant figure in this team.

"Foden should be saying 'no, give me the ball' - the positions he is taking up to demand the ball will determine if he gets the ball or not."

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Phil Foden was one of the Premier League's stellar performers as Manchester City claimed a fourth successive title but he still struggles to find a comfortable home in England's line-up.

Foden's natural position is working centrally, as he did to brilliant effect in Pep Guardiola's side, but in England's current system under Gareth Southgate he is unlikely to be deployed there, with Jude Bellingham the figure around which this side revolves.

Southgate wants to utilise Foden, but against Serbia on Sunday he once again struggled to make an impact in an area where there have been impressive reports about Anthony Gordon, a potential rival for his position, filtering out of England's training base.

Foden's left-flank partnership with Kieran Trippier did not look a natural fit and it is something Southgate must consider before England face Denmark on Thursday.

There was no lack of endeavour, but Foden was never the constant threat he poses for City at club level.

Foden had 64 touches but only one in the Serbia penalty area. He created one chance but it was a low-key, peripheral performance.

No-one would ever question the talent of the English footballer of the year but accommodating him effectively is a conundrum for Southgate.

Foden was not the only one to have a quiet night, with captain Harry Kane touching the ball just twice during the first half.

Read more from Phil on the five key England talking points

Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Bayern Munich have all expressed interest in 21-year-old Netherlands and Paris St-Germain forward Xavi Simons. (L'Equipe - in French, subscription required), external

Manchester City will not accept a fee lower than £25m for defender Joao Cancelo, with Barcelona interested in signing him after his loan spell. (Sun), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column