Crystal Palace v Manchester City - Premier League
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 14: Erling Haaland of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City at Selhurst Park on December 14, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
This was meant to be a transitional season for Manchester City, and it might still be. The Etihad Stadium club has invested heavily in its squad over the last two transfer windows, bringing in the likes of Omar Marmoush, Rayan Cherki and Tijani Reijnders among many others. City is in the middle of a squad rebuild.
Pep Guardiola has experimented with different approaches to get the best out of his new players. While Manchester City remains one of the most possession-orientated teams in the Premier League, it also plays more directly than any of Guardiola’s previous sides at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Until recently, it seemed likely that City would finish behind Arsenal as the Gunners set a fast pace at the top of the Premier League table. Arsenal is still in first place, but recent results have raised the prospect of a genuine title challenge by Guardiola’s men. Could City win the title this season?
“From experience when you win in the past you believe the past is always perfect - brilliant, red carpets,” said Guardiola after City’s 3-0 away win over Crystal Palace on Sunday. “When we won 100 points and all the titles we had a lot of games like today and the resilience was part of that. Every plan from every manager wants to do the best but there are moments where you struggle.”
Sunday’s away victory at Selhurst Park means City has now won 11 of its last 13 league games, moving Guardiola’s team to within just two points of Arsenal at the top of the standings. In this form, the Etihad Stadium outfit has to be taken seriously as possible champions. Arsenal won’t have it all its own way.
Arsenal doesn’t have Erling Haaland. The Norwegian has scored an incredible 23 goals in all competitions for Manchester City this season. He is breaking all kinds of records and is spearheading a title challenge when the support system around him is still in development. As long as City has Haaland, it has a chance.
Phil Foden is showing signs of rediscovering his best form, scoring six goals in his last five games for Manchester City. Jeremy Doku is impacting matches on a more regular basis while Reijnders and Nico Gonzalez are settling into City’s midfield unit. Things are coming together for Guardiola.
Ultimately, this season might prove to be too early for this particular iteration of Manchester City. The team remains vulnerable in defensive transition and an injury to Haaland could hit them hard. Right now, though, Guardiola’s team has to be talked about in the same breath as Arsenal and any other challenger.