10 KEY GAMES
JACK GAUGHAN
AUGUST 7 WEST HAM 0-2 MAN CITY
There were big questions about Erling Haaland after a Community Shield defeat by Liverpool but he got off to a flier, scoring twice at the London Stadium and laying down a marker.
AUGUST 27 MAN CITY 4-2 CRYSTAL PALACE
City had dropped two points at Newcastle the weekend before and were 2-0 down at half-time. But they came roaring back after the break as Haaland finished with a hat-trick.
OCTOBER 2 MAN CITY 6-3 MAN UNITED
Hat-tricks from Haaland and Phil Foden embarrassed Erik ten Hag’s United and offered a glimpse that City were capable of truly dismantling the best teams with their new striker.
NOVEMBER 5 MAN CITY 2-1 FULHAM
Joao Cancelo was sent off in the 26th minute yet City kept their composure and passed Fulham to death, winning it in stoppage time with a Haaland penalty. Pep Guardiola’s post-match address was described as ‘emotional’.
JANUARY 5 CHELSEA 0-1 MAN CITY
Guardiola’s radical tactical changes — Cancelo right wing, Rodri at centre half — did not work and he switched it up at the break as City ground out an important one-goal victory.
FEBRUARY 5 TOTTENHAM 1-0 MAN CITY
One of the worst displays of the season and one that led to an inquest by the players. Those clear-the-air talks clearly worked, because City have not lost a game in all competitions since.
FEBRUARY 15 ARSENAL 1-3 MAN CITY
City simply had to earn a result at the Emirates Stadium and dug in to achieve it. A dominant second-half display shocked Arsenal, with big performances by Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish.
APRIL 1 MAN CITY 4-1 LIVERPOOL
Mohamed Salah had given the visitors an early lead before they were blitzed by a City side now in imperious form. Without the injured Haaland, his understudy Julian Alvarez struck the equaliser at the Etihad.
APRIL 26 MAN CITY 4-1 ARSENAL
A night when the title slipped away from the Gunners. City were just too good for them, De Bruyne producing a masterclass in a fiery atmosphere. Mikel Arteta looked bewildered on the touchline as his side had no answer to City’s slick play.
APRIL 30 FULHAM 1-2 MAN CITY
There would be no point in winning against Arsenal if they had then surrendered at Fulham days later and City showed their grittier side to make sure they found a way of holding off Marco Silva’s spirited Cottagers.