Manchester City

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We asked what Manchester City's New Year resolutions should be.

Here are some of your replies:

Nick: A holding midfielder has to be the number one priority. However good Kovacic is, he is always ahead of the ball on any breaks and doesn't have the positional sense required. A couple of full-backs including a specialist left-back would be nice and some support in the striking department as well. If I am being greedy, the club also needs a new number one keeper.

Roger: City need to take a deep breath and admit that a re-think is needed at all levels. Recruitment, tactics and training. In Pep we have the world's best coach but he does have the Achilles heel of stubbornness and it can cause resentment to both players and fans alike.

Jeff: First, we need to stop being so easy to play through. If that can be achieved we should find a way to attack that doesn't just involve passing the ball around the opposition box and inviting a breakaway.

Aaryan: Give Jack Grealish more game time - this is his year in 2025. Give Ederson back his confidence and he will be the best.

Peter: City are so feeble in challenges, some players don't even look as though they even want to win the ball. Dangling a leg out is never going to win anything. We need players with some bite and determination and we have very few at the moment. Some new players with attitude are needed.

Johnny: Keep the faith in Pep and the good times will return.

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

It has been another entertaining year in the Premier League, so with 2025 just a matter of hours away let's take a look at the clubs that have topped the charts.

Manchester City became history makers in 2024 as they sealed their fourth successive Premier League title in May and their sixth in seven seasons.

Pep Guardiola's possession based football continued to dominate as they maintained the ball for an average of 64.5% per game and had a 90.6% passing accuracy over the year.

Brighton were the closest to matching their accuracy at 87.5% and Ange Postecoglou's similar high-risk football saw Tottenham retain 61.3% possession.

Under Jurgen Klopp and new head coach Arne Slot, Liverpool scored 92 goals in 2024 which is three more than Arsenal and nine greater than City.

The Reds registered 741 shots in total, which is a stark contrast to Leicester City who recorded the least with 170. Albeit that is only since their promotion back to the top-flight in the summer.

Of those shots, 286 of Liverpool's were on target. But it is Thomas Frank's Brentford that have proven to be the most clinical.

The Bees had a conversion rare of 15.3% after scoring 62 goals in the Premier League. Yoane Wissa found the back of the net 17 times, while Bryan Mbuemo registered 12 goals.

From goal scoring to conceding - West Ham turned over the most goals with 79.

They should look to North London for tips on how to tighten up their defence as Arsenal proved to be the most solid across all aspects of their back line.

The Gunners conceded just 25 goals across the course of the year and kept an impressive 18 clean sheets.

Sean Dyche's Everton, renowned for being stubborn to break down, kept 14 clean sheets despite only winning eight of their 36 games.

All stats are supplied by Opta

Barcelona's failed attempt to register Dani Olmo for the second half of the season has opened the door for Manchester City and Manchester United to sign the 26-year-old forward for free. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish), external

Bayer Leverkusen are among a number of clubs eyeing Manchester City's 22-year-old English midfielder James McAtee. (Mail), external

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

Christmas is boxed off.

We're almost through the confusing days before New Year and January is within touching distance.

And we need your help - what is Manchester City's New Year's resolution?

It could be a new player to sign, a tactical system to implement, an off-the-pitch matter or something else entirely.

Let us know

Manchester City registered only 46.4% possession in Sunday's 2-0 win at Leicester, which was Pep Guardiola's 323rd Premier League match in charge of the club.

Only in five Premier League games under Guardiola have they had less of the ball, and in two of those (v Wolves in 2019 and v Brighton in 2021) they had a man sent off in the first 15 minutes.

It was the first time this season that a team had registered more possession than City in a Premier League match, and only the 14th occasion it had happened since Guardiola's arrival in the summer of 2016.

Statistics provided by BBC Sport statistician Chris Collinson

Sarah Mulkerrins
Final Score reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The main thing that stuck out from Manchester City's win was the outpouring of emotion we saw from the manager and players alike.

In more routine times, a 2-0 win over a team in the bottom three would not elicit anything like the strength of feeling we saw at King Power Stadium.

Pep Guardiola's side were under real pressure as Leicester City pushed for an equaliser but, when Erling Haaland wrapped up the three points with his second-half score, the ferocity of his celebration was stronger than his actual header for the goal.

Seeing how all of the players reacted to that moment, it seemed that the team who have struggled with doubt recently, had found their reassurance. This was their confirmation that they could in fact win still.

It still feels remarkable to say that about the current Premier League champions - and the mark of this victory will only come if it helps them to find their groove again.

Image source, PA Media

Former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast that Erling Haaland ending his four-game wait for a goal is ominous for the rest of the Premier League:

"I waited longer than Haaland [to score] - four games is nothing! But it's because he's set the bar so high and everyone expects him to score every week.

"When they played against Everton, he didn't look confident with the penalty. He looked very emotional, like he was thinking about it, that he was desperate to score. It can happen for a centre-forward. I've been on runs of 10-12 games and you're thinking 'when am I going to score?' You overthink it and you snatch at things.

"I'd be more worried if Haaland wasn't getting chances, but he's still getting chances. I think he'll go on another run and so will City now."

Listen to more analysis on BBC Sounds

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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Leicester and Manchester City.

Here are some of your comments:

Leicester fans

Jon: Judging by the stats, Leicester grew into the game and perhaps were unlucky not to get something out of the it. Unfortunately, it's points that count at the moment and not performances. Money has got to be made available to Ruud van Nistelrooy in the January transfer window. I think we need more defensive options. Also it is an opportunity to try and offload those players who are deemed surplus to requirements. An altogether much better showing by Leicester with more fight and a sense of purpose.

Ian: Played well but we have to convert chances. If not, we are going down. The Wolves result was the disaster. It's going to be difficult to get any sort of result until the Crystal Palace game in the middle of January.

Dave: All round a better performance as our team is playing for a manager they obviously believe in. It's a step in the right direction and loads of elements need to be consistent in this style of playing. Ruud has maybe finished his apprenticeship!

Ryan: Better performance. Matched Man City through the game and were better at times during the match. You can see the progress that Ruud is implementing into the team. Time to start believing and getting behind the team.

Man City fans

Alan: City's second goal was right out of the old playbook. Superb. It was as if Superman had got rid of the Kryptonite! It will take a few more nervy wins to get the old flow back but encouraging.

Wilko: Similar display and performance to numerous recent City games but this one they won. Major overhaul still needed and several stalwarts still need to leave in the summer.

Usama: We were very fortunate at times but a win is a win, which was badly needed. We just need to concentrate on ourselves and forget things like top four etc. Now more than ever we just need to take it one game at a time, build momentum and confidence and see where that takes us. Nothing else matters at this point.

Neil: Another nervous performance but commitment all round the pitch. So pleased for Savinho. His last two performances have been encouraging. We fight till the end.

Kelly Somers introduces highlights and analysis from Sunday's six Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Everton 0-2 Nottingham Forest

• West Ham United 0-5 Liverpool

Manchester City are eyeing 28-year-old Nottingham Forest and Nigeria right-back Ola Aina as a replacement for their 34-year-old Englishman Kyle Walker. (Sun), external

Portugal and Al-Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo, 39, has refused to rule out a move to Manchester City, despite having played for rivals Manchester United over two spells. (Talksport), external

Newcastle United are interested in £25m Lens centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov, but they face competition for the 20-year-old Uzbekistan international from Premier League rivals Manchester City, Tottenham, Leicester City and Wolves. (Chronicle), external

Manchester City are unlikely to pursue 25-year-old Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who remains unwilling to move to England from Real Sociedad. (TBR Football), external

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

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Boss Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester City needed to beat Leicester for their "minds and souls".

Savinho and Erling Haaland scored to give the defending champions a 2-0 victory and just their second win in their last 10 Premier League matches.

City have suffered damaging defeats to leaders Liverpool, Tottenham, Bournemouth, Brighton, Aston Villa and in the Manchester derby during their abject run.

The win at the King Power Stadium lifted them to fifth, four points behind Chelsea having played a game more as Guardiola marked 500 games in charge with victory.

"Today we won, we needed it to clear our minds and souls and see 'ok, we can win games'," he said. "I think it's [relief] the right word to use, more than happiness, it's the relief.

"I never thought it would be difficult to win one single game. Maybe it's good, you have to win a game to come back to what you are going to do.

"People say it's impossible to get worse but it can get worse, don't tell me why but it can get worse.

"All the clubs and managers live this kind of situation. Maybe it wasn't expected but the most important is the relief and hopefully we can go to the games with another face."

Savinho scored his first City goal since signing from French side Troyes for £30.8m in the summer in the first half before setting up Haaland - who missed a penalty in the 1-1 draw against Everton on Boxing Day - for a crucial second with 16 minutes left.

Jamie Vardy and Facundo Buonanotte hit the woodwork, with Vardy also firing over in the second half, for the Foxes, who remain in the relegation zone, but the visitors held on.

Guardiola added: "The experience is what I always thought could happen. People said at the start of the season 'City are going to win' but I never took that comment seriously.

"There are a lot of factors, some of them everyone knows like injuries. Sometimes a manager has to deal with the tactics, relations, the media and there are feelings I should have reacted differently than I did [some] time ago.

"But it's incredible learning and it's just one game. We will see what happens on 4 January with West Ham."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, speaking to BBC Match of the Day:

"So many days without winning when we are used to it. It's a relief. The performance was not our best, Leicester were good. Happy for the result for the players, their commitment to be here.

"We can not sustain for 90 minutes, today we proved that again. Commitment and physicality. Clear our minds now by getting results. We are far away from winning the Premier League. We accept there's already no chance of that but we have other things to fight for. FA Cup, top four and winning games helps.

"They were better than us in the second half. We can not sustain the aggression and pressing. We just can't right now.

"This is just one game. The game against Manchester United hurt us a lot in terms of confidence. That game killed us. That game was mentally a struggle then tough games against Aston Villa and Everton. It is what it is, we have to hunt for wins and that's life. Most of the players proved again they are ready to fight."

On reaching 500 games as City boss: "Happy for all of us. It's a lot of games. Many memories for the players I've worked with from the first cup until now. The players have given me a good present today, celebrating 500 games like this."

Another 500?: "Not going to happen."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City have lost just one of their last 34 Premier League matches with Kevin De Bruyne in the starting XI (W27 D6).

The one defeat came against Manchester United earlier this month, with City winning 1-0 at the time De Bruyne was subbed off.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Leicester's performance

What did you make of Manchester City's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

There are six games in the Premier League on Sunday, and we will bring you every moment.

• Leicester v Man City (14:30)

• Crystal Palace v Southampton

• Everton v Nottingham Forest - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Fulham v Bournemouth

• Tottenham v Wolves

• West Ham v Liverpool (17:15) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

All kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all the action and reaction here

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.

This week, he takes on musician Emma-Jean Thackray, who is a Leeds fan.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Manchester City are on a terrible run of results but, as woeful as their recent performances have been, they are still not as bad as Leicester.

The Foxes have conceded at least three goals in their past three matches and maybe they are the kind of opposition that Pep Guardiola's side need to face to start firing again.

Leicester did show some spirit in their defeat by Liverpool last time out, but I said before that game that I think Ruud van Nistelrooy has a huge job on his hands to try to keep them up, and my opinion about that has not changed.

This season has always just been about staying up for Leicester but I still think there has to be some realism from the Foxes fans when it comes to their expectations.

It seems like they felt they would be comfortable after getting promotion but that is never the case - whoever you are, you have got to graft and you have got to earn your place in the Premier League.

Maybe their supporters are starting to realise that now?

I don't think Manchester City will run away with this but the only thing I am unsure about is whether to give Leicester a goal. If Jamie Vardy is available, then I think they will score - but they will still lose regardless.

Emma-Jean's prediction: 1-3

I want to preface my predictions by saying I am in a Fantasy Premier League with a bunch of other musicians in London. I have come bottom more than once so I am not hopeful I am going to do any better here - I have only just decided to drop Erling Haaland. I was clinging on for so long and I finally had to say, 'it's time for you to go, mate'.

In terms of this game, it feels like both teams' form has been quite similar. I don't see Leicester scoring more than one, and maybe this is the game where Manchester City get their act together.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Image source, Getty Images

With Manchester City heading to play Leicester City on Sunday, Pep Guardiola reflected on his first match against the Foxes in the Premier League more than eight years ago.

Guardiola's side lost 4-2 to the then reigning champions at King Power Stadium in December 2016, which was seen as one of the lowest moments of his early reign.

Asked by the media if that particular point in time was similar to the struggles he is facing at the moment, Guardiola said: "I don't relate one to the other; that was the first year [in England] - the squad was more or less there. It was a low point.

"I don't see similarities. The only chance we have is to continue and to prepare well for Leicester.

"We will try again. That's why we have had success because always is not enough. We try it again and again. Now we have to do the same when the results are not good."