Last season was an utter disaster for Manchester City, whose four-year reign of dominance in the Premier League was ended by Liverpool.
After setting an unprecedented feat in the world’s most challenging division, Pep Guardiola’s charges ran out of steam, finishing the season without a single piece of silverware.
It’s been eight years since Guardiola went on a run like this, and it only strengthened his will as Man City came back stronger next season, winning a domestic double.
On that basis, the Cityzens could return with vengeance next term, especially after adding several exciting players to their star-studded squad in the summer.
Guardiola has never gone two consecutive campaigns without a trophy, but for the first time in a while, his team will enter the season as the second-most fancied side to lift the crown.
Perhaps defying the odds could be what Man City need to reclaim their place at the summit of English football.
Man City Fixtures
Man City’s redemption campaign gets underway away to Wolverhampton Wanderers on August 16, while their first home game of the season pits them against Tottenham Hotspur a week later.
City’s first game after the international break marks the first 2025/26 edition of the famous Manchester derby, with Manchester United arriving at the Etihad Stadium on September 14.
November could be a crucial month for Man City in the first half of the season as they lock horns with Bournemouth (H), Liverpool (H) and Newcastle United (A).
They take on last season’s surprise package, Nottingham Forest, on Boxing Day and close the calendar year with an away match against newly promoted Sunderland.
They meet Man Utd in the return derby fixture at Old Trafford on January 17. The game should prepare them for a potentially title-defining trip to Anfield on February 2.
They meet Arsenal in mid-April and finish the season at home to Aston Villa.
Manager
Despite last season’s fiasco, Guardiola is still arguably the best coach in the world.
However, the man who revolutionised football and won everything there was to win during his trophy-laden managerial career is in uncharted territory.
A serial winner, Guardiola has rarely faced a season as challenging as the one ahead, with Man City heading into the new campaign seen by many as second-best to Liverpool.
It will undoubtedly be an added incentive for the 54-year-old to remind everyone why many consider him to be one of the greatest minds in football history.
Guardiola’s ability to rebuild and reenergise his team amid sky-high expectations after another free-spending transfer window will be under the spotlight.
Transfers
Despite not making numerous summer dealings like in the past, this could be considered a transitional transfer window for the Cityzens, namely due to Kevin De Bruyne’s departure.
The Belgian’s move to Napoli marks the end of an era at the Etihad, and it’ll be up to Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki to fill the creative gap.
Man City splashed out a combined fee of around £70 million to sign the dynamic duo from AC Milan and Lyon, respectively.
Both players made their City debuts at the 2025 FIFA Club World as Guardiola’s side crashed out in the first knockout round to Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal.
Rayan Ait-Nouri has arrived from Wolves to reinforce the left flank. The Cityzens have also re-signed former academy goalkeeper James Trafford from Burnley.
Former captain Kyle Walker headed in the opposite direction, while out-of-favour Jack Grealish moved to Everton on a season-long loan.
Trafford’s return has cast doubt on Ederson’s future in Manchester, but the Brazilian star should stay despite intense exit talks in the past 12 months.
Highly-rated teenager Sverre Nypan has joined the club from Rosenborg.
Starting XI
Man City lined up in a custom 4-3-3 formation at the Club World Cup, and it’s likely that Guardiola will stick with this set-up at the start of the 2025/26 campaign.
Even with Trafford’s expected homecoming, Ederson should retain his place between the sticks, though a change further down the line remains on the cards.
Ait-Nouri impressed on the flank and will probably be the first-choice left-back. His arrival means Josko Gvardiol will return to the heart of Man City’s defence to partner up with Ruben Dias.
Guardiola improvised with Matheus Nunes at right-back in North America, but Manuel Akanji is a better fit for the role.
After spending the best part of 2024/25 on the sidelines with a knee injury, Rodri is ready to regain his place deep in the midfield, with Reijnders and Bernardo Silva likely to complement the trio.
However, it’s almost impossible to predict who will be Guardiola’s favourite in attack.
Erling Braut Haaland will lead the line without a doubt. Yet, Man City’s firepower is like no other.
Omar Marmoush, Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku, Savinho and Cherki will fight for the two remaining places up front.
After an unenviable season, Foden sprang to life at the Club World Cup, showing signs of resurgence, while Marmoush had several breathtaking performances.
They could be Guardiola’s go-to options alongside Haaland, at least in the early stages of the season.
(4-3-3): Ederson; Ait-Nouri, Gvardiol, Dias, Akanji; Rodri, Reijnders, Silva; Marmoush, Haaland, Foden.
Star Player
Picking anyone other than Haaland would be a disrespect for Man City’s most lethal goalscoring threat in the past three years.
The Norwegian is a force of nature and has been the Cityzens’ standout performer since joining the club from Borussia Dortmund in 2022.
Despite losing the Golden Boot race to Mohamed Salah last term, Haaland smashed the 20-goal barrier in his third consecutive season in the Premier League.
The 25-year-old has netted 124 goals in 146 appearances for Man City, which makes this selection a no-brainer.
Prediction
Although this is a new-look Man City team, it takes a brave man to bet against the Premier League record breakers.
It’s hard to tell what the ceiling is for this revamped squad, but with Guardiola at the helm and a point to prove, the Cityzens remain genuine contenders on all fronts.
Given the Spaniard’s track record in English football, it’s difficult to imagine him going back-to-back seasons with a title, but much will also depend on Liverpool.
However, City should improve on last season’s third-place finish at the very least.
Predicted finish: 2nd.
Watch Premier League Live on TV
All 380 Premier League games are shown on Sky Sports and TNT Sports in the UK, while NBC Sports holds the rights to Premier League games in the USA. See our Premier League live streaming page for more information.
Read Next: Our full Premier League 2025/26 preview (with links to all individual Premier League team previews).
