FIVE KEY GAMES EN ROUTE TO THE CROWN

NOVEMBER 21, 2020 Tottenham 2 Man City 0

A second Premier League defeat of the season left City in 13th place at the end of the weekend, eight points off top spot, and convinced manager Pep Guardiola change was needed. Out went Aymeric Laporte and in came John Stones to begin what would prove to be a formidable central defensive partnership with Ruben Dias, the foundation on which City’s title assault would be built.

DECEMBER 15, 2020

Man City 1 West Brom 1 Guardiola has admitted he “didn’t like what I saw” after this draw and held a meeting with his coaches the next day, where it was decided to return City to the philosophy that had made them so successful in the past. Guardiola said: “We had to move the ball quicker, make more passes, stay more in position and run less with the ball.”

DECEMBER 19, 2020

Southampton 0 Man City 1 The start of City’s remarkable 21-game winning run in all competitions – 15 of them in the Premier League. A solitary Raheem Sterling goal secured a vital victory that would be the launchpad for City’s revival, although it still left them sixth, eight points behind leaders Liverpool, after 13 games.

JANUARY 3, 2021 Chelsea 1 Man City 3

With just 14 fit senior players, after an outbreak of Covid-19 in the squad led to their game at Everton being called off six days earlier, City won with goals from Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne.

Guardiola said: “At Stamford Bridge, with just 14 players available, that was the moment we believed we could do it.”

FEBRUARY 7, 2021 Liverpool 1 Man City 4

City moved five points clear at the top with a first win at Anfield in 18 years, aided by a calamitous display by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson. A brace from Gundogan and further goals from Foden and Sterling secured the seismic win, which kept Guardiola’s men on course for a third title in four years.