Haaland and Rayan Cherki appear to have developed a rapid connection as the latter assisted both of the former’s goals on Sunday.

Tyler Adams equalised for the energetic Bournemouth after Haaland’s clinical opener, however the visitors were no match for the relentless Cityzens.

Although Bournemouth edged the possession statistic at the Etihad, the away side’s ambitious high line allowed City in behind on a few too many occasions.

Andoni Iraola deserves credit for his bravery, though the visit to the Etihad proved a task too tough for The Cherries, still yet to claim a point in the blue half of Manchester in the Premier League era.

Haaland, who hit the famous Peter Crouch robot celebration after his first, profited from Bournemouth’s approach for both of his goals. And he could have had a first club hat-trick of the season if it was not for a fine save from Djordje Petrovic.

Arsenal remain well ahead at the summit of the table with 25 points from 10 games but this win keeps Pep Guardiola’s side in touching distance, just about. The gap is now six points, while Bournemouth drop to fourth in the table thanks to their electric start.

Guardiola is the 16th manager to reach the milestone with a single club, but has done so in just 349 games – 74 games quicker than anyone else.

Haaland outmuscled Sepp van den Berg to gather Josko Gvardiol’s looping cross, then wriggled away from the defender before precisely slotting past Caoimhin Kelleher.

It is the Norwegian striker’s third goal this week and his 18th in 11 games for club and country this season.

City had to hold on to their slim lead at the Gtech Community Stadium for more than 80 minutes but limited Brentford to few opportunities, despite the game opening up somewhat in a scrappy second half.

Victory moves City up to fifth before the international break, but there was concern for midfielder Rodri when he hobbled off with injury after just 21 minutes.

The Spaniard missed much of last season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury and is yet to return to the form that won him the Ballon d’Or last year.

The 29-year-old becomes Everton’s sixth signing of the summer following the arrivals of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Charly Alcaraz, Thierno Barry, Mark Travers and Adam Aznou.

He says talks with Toffees manager David Moyes were decisive in him choosing to move to Hill Dickinson Stadium.

“I’m over the moon to have signed for Everton – it’s massive for me, honestly. This is a great club, with great fans,” said the England winger.

“As soon as I spoke to the manager, I knew there was only one place that I wanted to go. On social media, I’ve been flooded with messages from Everton supporters, so there’s that side of it as well and that’s another reason why I chose Everton.

“I want to say thank you to the fans for all of the messages I’ve had already. Thank you for all of the love and support. I hope I can repay you now and I’m sure I will.”

Grealish is in line to make his Everton debut in their Premier League opener at Leeds on Monday.

The England playmaker joined City from Aston Villa for what was a British record fee of £100m in August 2021 and has made more than 150 appearances for the club – winning three Premier League titles, the Champions League and the FA Cup.

But he fell out of favour last season, making only seven league starts before being left out of their squad for the Club World Cup in the United States.

A move to Everton gives him the chance to rejuvenate his career and take centre stage at their new stadium.

Grealish will also be aiming to win his place back in the England squad – something Moyes hopes Everton can help him achieve – after saying last summer he was “heartbroken” by being left out of the squad for the 2024 European Championship.

Everton boss Moyes said: “I think we’re getting him at a good time because he’s experienced, he understands the Premier League and we’re all fully aware of the levels he’s capable of performing to.

“We’re all looking forward to working with him and providing a platform for him to show the best version of himself.”

Discussions have been held between the two clubs in recent days over a possible deal for the 21-year-old.

Negotiations are at an early stage and it remains to be seen whether City will sanction a move for the Brazil international.

Sources have told BBC Sport that City are not looking to sell Savinho and that it would take offers of more than £50m for the club to consider doing so.

Should City obtain a fee in that region, the club would make a substantial profit on a player they signed from French club Troyes for £30.8m just a year ago.

Savinho was a regular under Pep Guardiola last season, scoring three times in 48 appearances across all competitions.

But City signed France winger Rayan Cherki from Lyon in a £30m deal this summer, which could limit Savinho’s opportunities at the Etihad.

Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank is keen to bolster his attacking options after Son Heung-min was sold to Major League Soccer side LAFC last week.

Mohammed Kudus arrived in a £55m deal from West Ham earlier this summer, while the club failed to secure a £60m move for Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White.

Spurs’ need for attacking reinforcements has been heightened since midfielder James Maddison was ruled out for the majority of the upcoming season with a knee injury.

The England international sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear during a pre-season friendly draw against Newcastle United in Seoul, South Korea, earlier this month.

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Match background

This clash at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 17 May pits together a Crystal palace team which has never won the FA Cup (they have been runners-up twice, in 1990 and 2016, losing both finals at the hands of Manchester United) and a Manchester City team looking to win an eighth title in this competition (and a second in the space of three years).

The Eagles have beaten Stockport County, Doncaster Rovers, Millwall, Fulham and Aston Villa en route to the FA Cup Final, while the Citizens have overcome Salford City, Leyton Orient, Plymouth Argyle, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest.

For Palace, a triumph in this match would go down as the club’s greatest ever achievement, and underline the progress they have made under manager Oliver Glasner. As for City, their disappointing showings in the Premier League and Champions League make this match a last chance to claim some silverware in what has been an underwhelming season by their high standards.

What the teams are saying

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner on reaching the FA Cup Final:

“With all the happiness and pride, it was not the last step. It was one more step, but an important step. When you play the final, you want to win it. I’m really proud. I’m enjoying walking in front of the stands seeing how happy people are.”

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insists even winning the FA Cup would not salvage their campaign:

“No – the season has not been good. We are a thousand-million points behind Liverpool [in the Premier League]! The season has not been good. We have to be calm now, recover […]. And then play Crystal Palace, and we saw [in the first semifinal] how good they are.”

Players to watch

Crystal Palace – Eberechi Eze

The 26-year-old attacking midfielder has enjoyed a great campaign for Crystal Palace, and has been linked with a move to a bigger Premier League club. Whether that materialises remains to be seen, but Eze will certainly be determined to lead the Eagles to their first major trophy.

Manchester City – Omar Marmoush

The Man City forward will be looking to join compatriots Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, 2022) and Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal, 2017) as an Egyptian winner of the FA Cup. Marmoush’s attacking versatility and hunger for goals will make him a major threat in the big game at Wembley.

Head-to-head

In head-to-head stats, Palace and Man City have met in 73 matches across all competitions since their first clash in 1921. The Citizens have claimed 39 wins compared to 17 for the Eagles, while 17 games have been drawn.

City are unbeaten in their last seven matches against Palace, including two Premier League meetings this season: a 2-2 draw in London in December 2024, and a 5-2 home win at the Etihad Stadium in April 2025.

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Broadcast details

Times CAT

Saturday 17 May

17:30: Crystal Palace v Manchester City – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League, SuperSport Maximo 2 and SuperSport Maximo 360

Earlier this week, a 20-year-old man was charged with assault after Grealish was allegedly slapped as he walked into the Old Trafford tunnel following Sunday’s 0-0 draw.

Fellow England international Foden also had to deal with derogatory chants about his mother by United fans during the first half, which Guardiola later said showed “a lack of class”.

United have privately condemned the chants but the Football Association has decided not to charge the club.

Asked how Grealish and Foden were feeling, Guardiola said: “He doesn’t feel good but we move forward.

“It’s a crazy world. Nobody is away from that.

“It’s not about United, it’s not a problem of a specific club or department in world football. It’s beyond that person. It happens everywhere.”

Foden is a doubt for City’s home Premier League clash with Crystal Palace on Saturday (12:30 BST) after picking up an ankle injury at Old Trafford.

City, currently sixth in the table, remain without the injured Erling Haaland, Rodri, John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake.

The Norway striker scored City’s equaliser in the comeback 2-1 win over Bournemouth in the FA Cup quarter-finals at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday.

However, Haaland – who had earlier seen a penalty saved – was substituted in the 61st minute after injuring his left ankle.

Haaland, 24, was later seen leaving the ground on crutches and wearing a protective boot.

City released a statement on Monday saying they hope to have Haaland available before the end of the season and for the Club World Cup.

The statement read: “Manchester City FC can confirm that Erling Haaland has suffered an injury to his left ankle.

“The Norwegian striker sustained the injury during Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final victory away at AFC Bournemouth.

“Erling underwent initial tests in Manchester on Monday morning and will now seek specialist consultation to confirm the full extent of the injury.

“Assessment remains ongoing to ascertain a full prognosis. The expectation is that Erling will be fit in time to play a further part in the remainder of this season, including this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.”

The draw took place ahead of City’s 2-1 comeback victory over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, in which they sealed their place in the final four of the competition for the seventh year running.

City fell behind to Evanilson’s goal on 21 minutes after Erling Haaland failed to convert an early penalty.

But the Norway international did end up finding the back of the net, equalising just four minutes after the half-time break, before Omar Marmoush netted the winner two minutes after being introduced as a substitute.

Pep Guardiola’s side last claimed the FA Cup trophy in 2023, and this year’s iteration stands as the final chance to salvage their season with domestic silverware, as they sit 22 points behind leaders Liverpool in the Premier League.

City, seven-time winners of the competition, fell to a 2-1 defeat against rivals Manchester United in last year’s final.

Forest’s run to the semi-finals continues a superb 2024/25 campaign, which has seen a sustained push for a UEFA Champions League finish – with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side sitting third in the Premier League.

Nuno’s men advanced to the semi-finals with a penalty shoot-out victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, with the two sides locked level at 0-0 over 120 minutes. Forest also beat Ipswich Town on penalties in the fifth round.

Forest have not won a major trophy for 35 years, and should they win the FA Cup and finish in a Champions League spot, they would open up another spot in Europe for a Premier League team.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, beat Preston North End 3-0 to seal their spot in the final four, and they will face Crystal Palace.

Marcus Rashford scored for the first time in an Aston Villa shirt, netting a brace, while Jacob Ramsey notched a third to send Unai Emery’s side to Wembley.

Villa, seeking an end to their near-30-year major trophy drought, also remain in the UEFA Champions League while maintaining a push for the Premier League top five.

The first leg of their European tie against Paris Saint-Germain – who knocked Liverpool out of the competition – is on April 9.

Villa will meet Palace – who defeated Fulham 3-0 to reach the Wembley semi-finals and are hunting their first FA Cup triumph.

The Eagles finished as runners-up in the competition in 2016, taking a late lead in the final against Manchester United before being pegged back by Juan Mata, with Jesse Lingard scoring the winner in extra time.

Palace also reached the FA Cup final in 1990, but again fell at the final hurdle, and they now look to go one step further – a feat which would secure a spot in the UEFA Europa League for the first time in the club’s history.

Oliver Glasner’s side defeated Villa 4-1 in front of the TNT Sports cameras when the two sides met in February.

The semi-final ties will be held on the weekend of April 26 and 27.

While City were swept aside by Premier League leaders Liverpool, Guardiola saw enough in his side to be confident for the future.

His team contained three players who have been with the club a matter of weeks, key men Erling Haaland and Rodri the most notable of five absentees, and with central defensive axis Ruben Dias limited to a 13-minute cameo off the bench as he strives for full fitness in his comeback from injury.

The average age of Manchester City’s starting XI in this game was 25 years and 68 days – their joint-youngest in a Premier League match under Guardiola.

“I saw a bright future,” he told BBC Sport. “These players are so young.

“Other than Kevin [de Bruyne] and Nathan [Ake], they are the future of this club in the next years, with others who will come in future windows.”

Guardiola namechecked wide duo Savinho and Jeremy Doku. It is safe to assume England international Phil Foden is also part of that group.

For others, like De Bruyne, central defender John Stones, midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and England winger Jack Grealish, who remained on the bench throughout, the future is less certain.

City have a long-standing interest in Juventus full-back Andrea Cambiasso and over the past few days have been linked with Bayer Leverkusen’s Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz.

By the time Guardiola gets to the start of next season, his squad could look very different to the one that began this one.

The former Barcelona and Bayern coach is not one for predicting the future but asked to respond to the post-match comments of Liverpool boss Arne Slot, who feels City will challenge strongly again next season, Guardiola said he hoped the Dutchman was right.

“I would like that,” he said. “I know what we have done as a team. It’s not enough but I recognise my team in the last two games in the Premier League – they were brilliant against both Newcastle and Liverpool.

“In Madrid it was not good enough in both games to try to go through but the pace today, the rhythm, the pressing, the solidarity for most of them playing in difficult positions, I approve it and it was really good.”

City’s eighth Premier League defeat of the campaign leaves them 20 points adrift of the champions-elect.

“How many points are they in front of Arsenal?” questioned Guardiola, when asked if City had been beaten by the title winners. “How many games have they lost?”

The answer, 11 and one, told its own story.

For City, the challenge is to claim a place in next season’s Champions League, for which, fifth is likely to be enough.

With 12 games remaining, they are fourth, three points behind third-placed Nottingham Forest – but with a better goal difference, but only five ahead of Fulham, who are 10th.

It is a less exhilarating task than trying to secure a record fourth successive title, or winning a historic Treble, which has been in front of them as the previous two seasons entered their final weeks, but Guardiola is convinced it will be enough motivation.

“If it doesn’t happen it’s because we were not good enough, not because we had a lack of hunger and desire,” he said.

“It’s so tight with four or five teams; Nottingham Forest, Newcastle, Aston Villa and the others are so good. It will not be easy but we will try.”

Guardiola hopes for Haaland injury return

Haaland was forced to watch proceedings from the behind the City bench, having told Guardiola on Saturday he was not ready to return from the knee injury he suffered at the end of the win over Newcastle.

Guardiola played down concerns the Norwegian’s absence could be prolonged but admitted he was not sure when Haaland would be back.

“Apparently he’s not injured because the scans dictate that he’s fine,” he said. “But he didn’t feel fine.

“I have the feeling it [return] will be soon because he trained yesterday and made some really good movements but he said he was not ready and we have to respect that.

“Hopefully he can be back for Spurs [on Wednesday].”

The Norwegian joined City from Dortmund in 2022 and has scored 111 goals in 126 games for the club since.

The striker’s previous deal, which reportedly included a release clause, had been due to expire in 2027.

Haaland’s new deal would see the striker remain with City until his 34th birthday should he stay at the club until its expiry in nine-and-a-half years’ time.

“I am really happy to have signed my new contract and to be able to look forward to spending even more time at this great club,” said Haaland.

“Manchester City is a special club, full of fantastic people with amazing supporters and it’s the type of environment that helps bring the best out of everybody.

“I also want to thank [manager] Pep [Guardiola], his coaching staff, my team-mates and everyone at the club as they have all helped me so much in the past couple of years.”

Txiki Begiristain, City’s director of football, said: “The fact he [Haaland] is signed for so long demonstrates our commitment to him as a player and his love for the club.”

Haaland’s contract renewal comes two months after Pep Guardiola’s decision to sign a new two-year deal of his own.

It has been suggested that Haaland’s future at City is linked to Guardiola’s but his decision to sign such a long-term deal dismisses that theory.

The length of Haaland’s deal is the longest in the Premier League, eclipsing the nine-year deal Cole Palmer signed with Chelsea last August.

Since moving to the club from Germany, the Norway forward has won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the Champions League and the Super Cup.

Haaland, the son of former City defender Alf-Inge, has netted 21 times in 28 appearances for City this season.

The defending champions are 12 points behind leaders Liverpool in the Premier League table, having played an extra game than the Reds.

The striker’s renewal comes as City await the outcome of their disciplinary case against the Premier League.

The club, which could face a huge sanction if found guilty, have denied the 115 charges levelled against them.

The Bees trailed by two goals after 78 minutes, only for Yoane Wissa to pull one back before captain Christian Norgaard’s 92nd-minute headed equaliser saw them rescue a point in a thrilling finish.

Brentford almost stole the victory in the 95th minute, only for Nathan Ake to head Bryan Mbeumo’s curled effort off the goalline.

Pep Guardiola’s side went ahead in the 66th minute when Phil Foden leapt to cushion a side-footed volley from Kevin de Bruyne’s superb cross from the right.

But Brentford nearly equalised five minutes later, only for Ake to clear the ball off the line from Wissa’s effort after Mbeumo had set up the chance by going around City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega.

That miss looked to have proved costly when Foden scored his second in the 78th minute, reacting first to convert the rebound after Mark Flekken had parried Savinho’s strike.

City were on course for a third successive Premier League win but the hosts had other ideas.

Brentford pulled one back when Wissa had space to shoot home from six yards out, a goal that took him above Ivan Toney as the Bees top scorer in the Premier League.

Then, at the end of a thrilling match at the Gtech Community Stadium, Norgaard delighted the home fans with a powerful header past Ortega.

City have won the Premier League in each of the past four seasons but a run of just one win in nine league games in November and December damaged their hopes of lifting the trophy this term.

Victories over Leicester and West Ham, as well as an 8-0 thrashing of League Two Salford City in the FA Cup had boosted City morale, but this will feel like two points dropped.

The City boss celebrated 500 games in charge of the club with a nervy 2-0 win over Leicester on Sunday.

City’s victory – just their second in their last 10 Premier League games – lifts them up to fifth, but they are 14 points behind leaders Liverpool.

“We are far away from winning the Premier League,” Guardiola told BBC’s Match of the Day.

“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.”

City have won six of the last seven Premier League titles, but before the win over Leicester, the club had won just one of their previous 13 league games – losing nine.

Guardiola admitted he was relieved to end a five-game winless run.

“Just relief, that is the word to express how all of us feel,” he said.

“We have done incredible things and now we struggle to win games so now it’s just relief.”

Will City be busy in January & how bad is their injury list?

Guardiola believes injuries are the primary reason behind City’s poor form but says there are areas the club need to target in the upcoming transfer window.

“In some positions we need help,” Guardiola said.

“When we’re all together we’re the team we were but with important players out for weeks and months it’s so difficult.”

Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder Rodri is out for the season with a knee injury, while Ruben Dias, John Stones, Ederson, Oscar Bobb and Matheus Nunes also missed the Leicester game.

Guardiola added: “I thought central defenders would be fit all season but we have struggled – holding midfield and central defenders we need help.

“The market is the market – it’s not easy, it’s expensive so we will see what the club can do.”

Are City lacking in intensity?

The scoreline at King Power Stadium on Sunday does not tell the full story.

Against a lively Leicester side, Manchester City were still below par and for the first time this season they had less possession than their opponents (46.4%).

It is just the 14th time Guardiola’s side have had less possession during his 323-game reign in the Premier League.

“It was not the ideal performance but hopefully the victories will give our mood a better position,” Guardiola said.

“We didn’t have enough energy to sustain 90 minutes but hopefully in the new year we can bounce back a bit from a bad moment.”

The stats also show City are lacking the intensity we have become accustomed to seeing in Guardiola’s teams.

Against Leicester, the club won possession in the final third just twice. Last season, City nicked possession in the final third 7.5 times on average per game.

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville told Sky Sports: “They got the win and the clean sheet but it has been a struggle for them.

“To watch them today it is still unusual, you’re not getting carried away.”

City, who have won six of the past seven Premier League titles, have won just one of their past 13 league games, losing nine.

It has put Guardiola under immense pressure, but he has vowed not to walk away or blame any of his players.

“I will try, I will keep going,” he said before City travel to Leicester on Sunday afternoon.

“I will not give up. I want to be here. I want to do it and, with the situation that we have, we have to do it.

“Of course I want it [to end the bad run], everyone wants it. I don’t want to disappoint my people in terms of the club, the fans, the people who love this club.

“I think all of us in our job want to do it well and please the people. That is undeniable, not a question mark.

“The biggest test is to come back again, but we have done that before.”

Guardiola said injuries are the primary reason for City’s poor form, with several key players missing recent games including the 1-1 home draw with Everton on Thursday.

Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder Rodri is out for the season with a knee injury, while Ruben Dias, John Stones, Ederson, Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish and Matheus Nunes also missed the Everton game.

“Sometimes you have injuries,” Guardiola said. “For how many years we were incredibly consistent but now, yes, we’re a little bit down and the main reason is having so many important players injured.

“But I saw the team spirit, how we trained this week, how focused they are, how they try to practise. We saw that against Everton but unfortunately, we couldn’t get the result we wanted.”

If there was any player currently in the Premier League you would hand the ball to for a penalty to win a match, it would be the prolific Norwegian. Not on this occasion, though.

Looking to land a knockout blow, Haaland saw his second-half strike saved by spot-kick expert Jordan Pickford, as Manchester City’s crisis continued with a 1-1 draw against Everton at Etihad Stadium.

“How do you react mentally?” asked boss Pep Guardiola about the penalty miss. “Life is not easy. Sport is not easy. When it happens, it is OK.

“There are still a lot of minutes to play and we had the chances afterwards. We created, incredible how they ran and fight. In some games it was not good but today well played.”

At the full-time whistle, there were a smattering of boos from home supporters at Etihad Stadium and a despondent Haaland ripped off his hair bobble and shirt before heading straight down the tunnel.

As Haaland trudged off out of sight, Guardiola stood motionless on the pitch with the look of a man unable to find answers to their current crisis.

City’s all-conquering side have suffered a remarkable drop-off and now won just once in their last 13 games in all competitions.

In the post-match news conference, the stunned Spaniard was barely audible in the responses to the questions fired his way.

“My body language was positive,” he uttered. “The team played really good. We had I don’t know how many shots. The first half was brilliant.

City have a lengthy injury list, but their downturn has coincided with Haaland’s struggles in front of goal.

The striker made a blistering start to the campaign looked to be on his way to setting more goalscoring records when netting 10 goals in his first five games, but has only managed three in 13 since.

This has largely been down to underperformance on his expected goal (xG) rate, with statistics showing he has scored five fewer goals than he should have done during this recent run.

There is also a stark contrast from his shot conversion rate from the first five games to his last 13, dropping from 38.5% to a lowly 6.4%.

The penalty miss was Haaland’s only shot on target in the contest – but Everton did not set out to pay him extra attention.

Asked if there had been a special plan to handle the frontman, Dyche said: “No. I was asked the other day when playing Chelsea about Cole Palmer and what a great player he is turning out to be.

“We know Haaland is too but I believe in the team. I don’t look at one aspect of it, I look at the team, what they are doing and they have done a good job today.”

‘Poor penalty but good save’

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Pickford saved his seventh penalty in the Premier League since joining Everton in 2017

After Toffees forward Iliman Ndiaye had cancelled out Bernardo Silva’s opener, the defining moment came in the second half when Vitalii Mykolenko tripped Savinho in the box.

During the VAR check, it was a battle of the minds with Everton captain Seamus Coleman receiving a yellow card for trying to put off Haaland, who had the ball in his hand.

The booking ultimately appeared to be a well-earned one for the team and Pickford seemed to revel in his big moment, jumping up and down on his line, sticking his tongue out before stooping low to his right to push the ball away.

Pickford has made big penalty saves for England on the international stage and this was seventh spot-kick stop since joining Everton in 2017.

Such is City’s luck at the moment that they managed to recycle the ball and Haaland headed in, but it was ruled out for offside, much to the joy of the travelling supporters.

Haaland had scored 15 of 16 of his previous penalties in the league, with the other hitting the woodwork, while this was the first he had seen saved.

“It is good from the analysts to give him as much benefit of as many penalties as they can,” Dyche said of Pickford’s save. “Credit to him for making the right decision in the spur of the moment.”

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson said on BBC Radio 5 Live: “Pickford is good at putting pressure on strikers. Haaland must have felt the pressure there, this place went silent.

“It was a decent save but a really poor penalty. He didn’t whip it around like a left-footer should. A poor penalty, but a good save.”

Ex-England defender Matt Upson added on Amazon Prime: “It was brilliant save from Pickford. He relishes situations like this. He doesn’t make life any easier for the penalty taker.

“But for Haaland to miss that penalty speaks a bit about where the confidence is in this team at the moment.”

Pep Guardiola’s side, once all-conquering, are in unfamiliar territory amid a staggering fall-off, with just one win now in their past 13 games in all competitions.

The result leaves the champions sixth in the table, three points adrift of Nottingham Forest in fourth and 11 behind leaders Liverpool, with those two sides still yet to play on Thursday.

City almost made the perfect start in the third minute but Josko Gvardiol’s towering header cannoned back off the post – and the hosts were rewarded for their dominance shortly after.

They grabbed a deserved opener in the 14th minute as Bernardo Silva latched on to Jeremy Doku’s pass and managed to bobble home a finish into the far corner courtesy of a deflection off Jarrad Branthwaite.

It should have been two when Phil Foden fed a pass to the onrushing Silva inside the box, but the Portugal international sent his first-time attempt wide of the post on this occasion.

But with their first clear-cut chance of the game, Everton drew level in the 36th minute through Iliman Ndiaye’s marvellous strike, taking a touch from Abdoulaye Doucoure’s cross and sending a delightful finish with the outside of his boot into the far corner.

City had the chance to regain the lead seven minutes into the second half when left-back Vitalii Mykolenko chopped down Savinho inside the area, but Pickford dived the right way to keep out Haaland’s spot-kick.

City pushed for the winner but failed to prise open the Everton backline and were left to suffer again, with their last victory coming on 4 December against Forest.

City are currently in their 14th consecutive season in European football’s most prestigious club competition.

Only Arsenal between 1998 and 2017, and Manchester United between 1996 and 2014, have a longer record of qualifying among English clubs.

City are seventh in the Premier League after 17 matches, four points behind Nottingham Forest in fourth and a point behind fifth-placed Bournemouth.

England are currently top of Uefa’s European Performance Spot table and well placed to secure a fifth place in next season’s Champions League, although City would still not qualify on current standings.

“When I said before, people laughed,” said Guardiola. “They said, ‘qualifying for the Champions League is not a big success’.

“But I know it because it happens with clubs in this country. They were dominant for many years and after they were many years not qualifying for the Champions League.”

Guardiola’s side host Everton on Boxing Day, before a trip to Leicester on 29 December and a home match against West Ham on 4 January.

Given all three opponents are in the bottom seven, it offers City a chance to improve on an appalling recent record of four points from eight games, which Guardiola acknowledges has left their lofty European ambitions in doubt.

“The one team that has been in the Champions League for the past years has been Manchester City,” he added.

“Now we are at risk, of course we are. Definitely.”

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United finished in the Premier League’s top four from the 2005-06 season to 2008-09. At least three of them also occupied the top four spots for 15 successive campaigns until 2012.

But United have spent five out of the past 11 seasons outside the Champions League. Arsenal spent six seasons out of the competition before returning last term. Liverpool missed out all but one year in seven from 2010, while Chelsea are in their second successive campaign outside Europe’s elite.

This term the threat to City comes from unexpected sources. As well as Forest and Bournemouth, Aston Villa are ahead of City, while Newcastle, Fulham and Brighton are also within a couple of points.

“There are a lot of contenders,” said Guardiola, whose side have lost nine of their last 12 games in all competitions. “For every club it is so important and if we are not winning games, we will be out.

“If we don’t qualify it is because we don’t deserve it, because we were not prepared and because we had a lot of problems and didn’t solve them.”

Manchester City have lost nine matches in their past 12 – as many defeats as they had suffered in their previous 106 fixtures.

At the end of October, City were still unbeaten at the top of the Premier League and favourites to win a fifth successive title. Now they are seventh, 12 points behind leaders Liverpool having played a game more.

It has been an incredible fall from grace and left people trying to work out what has happened – and whether Guardiola can make it right.

After discussing the situation with those who know him best, I have taken a closer look at the future – both short and long term – and how the current crisis at Man City is going to be solved.

‘Guardiola always doubts himself’

Guardiola has also been giving it a lot of thought. He has not been sleeping very well, as he has said, and has not been himself at times when talking to the media.

He has been talking to a lot of people about what is going on as he tries to work out the reasons for City’s demise. Some reasons he knows, others he still doesn’t.

What people perhaps do not realise is Guardiola hugely doubts himself and always has.

He will be thinking “I’m not going to be able to get us out of this” and needs the support of people close to him to push away those insecurities – and he has that.

He is protected by his people who are very aware, like he is, that there are a lot of people that want City to fail.

It has been a turbulent time for Guardiola. Remember those marks he had on his head after the 3-3 draw with Feyenoord in the Champions League?

He always scratches his head, it is a gesture of nervousness. Normally nothing happens but on that day one of his nails was far too sharp so, after talking to the players in the changing room where he scratched his head because of his usual agitated gesturing, he went to the news conference.

His right-hand man Manel Estiarte sent him photos in a message saying “what have you got on your head?”, but by the time Guardiola returned to the coaching room there was hardly anything there again.

He started that day with a cover on his nose after the same thing happened at the training ground the day before. Guardiola was having a footballing debate with Kyle Walker about positional stuff and marked his nose with that same nail.

There was also that remarkable news conference after the Manchester derby when he said “I don’t know what to do”.

That is partly true and partly not true.

Ignore the fact Guardiola suggested he was “not good enough”. He actually meant he was not good enough to resolve the situation with the group of players he has available and with all the other current difficulties.

There are obviously logical explanations for the crisis and the first one has been talked about many times – the absence of injured midfielder Rodri.

You know the game Jenga? When you take the wrong piece out, the whole tower collapses. That is what has happened here.

It is normal for teams to have an over-reliance on one player if he is the best in the world in his position. And you cannot calculate the consequences of an injury that rules someone like Rodri out for the season.

City are a team, like many modern ones, in which the holding midfielder is a key element to the construction.

So, when you take Rodri out, it is difficult to hold it together. There were Plan Bs – John Stones, Manuel Akanji, even Nathan Ake – but injuries struck.

The big injury list has been out of the ordinary and the busy calendar has also played a part in compounding the issues.

However, one factor even Guardiola cannot explain is the big uncharacteristic errors in almost every game from international players.

Why did Matheus Nunes make that challenge to give away the penalty against Manchester United? Jack Grealish is sent on at the end to keep the ball and cannot do that. There are errors from Walker and other defenders. These are some of the best players in the world.

Of course the players’ mindset is important, and confidence is diminishing. Wrong decisions get taken so there is almost panic on the pitch instead of calm.

There are also players badly out of form who are having to play because of injuries.

Walker is now unable to hide behind his pace, I’m not sure Kevin de Bruyne is ever getting back to the level he used to be at, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan do not have time to rest, Grealish is not playing at his best.

Some of these players were only meant to be playing one game a week but, because of injuries, have played 12 games in 40 days. It all has a domino effect.

One consequence is that Erling Haaland isn’t getting the service to score. But the Norwegian still remains City’s top-scorer with 13. Defender Josko Gvardiol is next on the list with just four.

The way their form has been analysed inside the City camp is there have only been three games where they deserved to lose (Liverpool, Bournemouth and Aston Villa). But of course it is time to change the dynamic.

‘Big changes are coming’

Guardiola has never protected his players so much. He has not criticised them and is not going to do so. They have won everything with him.

Instead of doing more with them, he has tried doing less. He has sometimes given them more days off to clear their heads, so they can reset – two days this week for instance.

Perhaps the time to change a team is when you are winning, but no-one was suggesting Man City were about to collapse when they were top and unbeaten after nine league games.

Some people have asked how bad it has to get before City make a decision on Guardiola. The answer is that there is no decision to be made.

Maybe if this was Real Madrid, Barcelona or Juventus, the pressure from outside would be massive and the argument would be made that Guardiola has to go. At City he has won the lot, so how can anyone say he is failing?

Yes, this is a crisis. But given all their problems, City’s renewed target is finishing in the top four. That is what is in all their heads now.

The idea is to recover their essence by improving defensive concepts that are not there and re-establishing the intensity they are known for.

Guardiola is planning to use the next two years of his contract, which is expected to be his last as a club manager, to prepare a new Manchester City.

When he was at the end of his four years at Barcelona, he asked two managers what to do when you feel people are not responding to your instructions.

Do you go or do the players go? Sir Alex Ferguson and Rafael Benitez both told him that the players need to go.

Guardiola did not listen because of his emotional attachment to his players back then and he decided to leave the Camp Nou because he felt the cycle was over.

He will still protect his players now but there is not the same emotional attachment – so it is the players who are going to leave this time.

It is likely City will look to replace five or six regular starters. Guardiola knows it is the end of an era and the start of a new one.

Changes will not be immediate and the majority of the work will be done in the summer. But they are open to any opportunities in January – and a holding midfielder is one thing they need.

In the summer City might want to get Spain’s Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad and they know 60m euros (£50m) will get him.

He said no to Liverpool last summer even though everything was agreed, but he now wants to move on and the Premier League is the target.

Even if they do not get Zubimendi, that is the calibre of footballer they are after.

A new Manchester City is on its way – with changes driven by Guardiola, incoming sporting director Hugo Viana and the football department.

Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa left them joint bottom of the form table over the last eight games with just Southampton for company.

Saints, at the foot of the Premier League, have the same number of points [four] as City over their last eight matches having won one, drawn one and lost six – the same record as the floundering champions.

And if Southampton – who appointed Ivan Juric as their new manager on Saturday – get at least a point at Fulham on Sunday, City will be on the worst run in the division.

Even Wolves, who sacked boss Gary O’Neil last Sunday and replaced him with Vitor Pereira, have earned double the number of points during the same period having played a game less.

They are damming statistics for Pep Guardiola, even if he does have some mitigating circumstances with injuries to Ederson, Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias – who all missed the loss at Villa Park – and the long-term loss of midfield powerhouse Rodri.

Guardiola was happy with Saturday’s performance, despite defeat in Birmingham, but there is little solace to take at slipping further out of the title race.

He may have needed to field a half-fit Manuel Akanji and John Stones at Villa Park but that does not account for City looking a shadow of their former selves.

That does not justify the error Josko Gvardiol made to gift Jhon Duran a golden chance inside the first 20 seconds, or £100m man Jack Grealish again failing to have an impact on a game.

There may be legitimate reasons for City’s drop off, whether that be injuries, mental fatigue or just simply a team coming to the end of its lifecycle, but their form, which has plunged off a cliff edge, would have been unthinkable as they strolled to a fourth straight title last season.

Afterwards Guardiola was calm, so much so it was difficult to hear him in the news conference, a contrast to the frustrated figure he cut on the touchline.

He said: “It depends on us. The solution is bring the players back. We have just one central defender fit, that is difficult. We are going to try next game – another opportunity and we don’t think much further than that.

“Of course there are more reasons. We concede the goals we don’t concede in the past, we [don’t] score the goals we score in the past. Football is not just one reason. There are a lot of little factors.

“Last season we won the Premier League, but we came here and lost. We have to think positive and I have incredible trust in the guys. Some of them have incredible pride and desire to do it. We have to find a way, step by step, sooner or later to find a way back.”

Villa boss Unai Emery highlighted City’s frailties, saying he felt Villa could seize on the visitors’ lack of belief.

“Manchester City are a little bit under the confidence they have normally,” he said. “The second half was different, we dominated and we scored. Through those circumstances they were feeling worse than even in the first half.”

Haaland admits confidence is waning

Image caption: Erling Haaland had one touch in the Villa box

There are chinks in the armour never seen before at City under Guardiola and Erling Haaland conceded belief within the squad is low.

He told TNT after the game: “Of course, [confidence levels are] not the best. We know how important confidence is and you can see that it affects every human being. That is how it is, we have to continue and stay positive even though it is difficult.”

Haaland, with 76 goals in 83 Premier League appearances since joining City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, had one shot and one touch in the Villa box.

His 18 touches in the whole game were the lowest of all starting players and he has been self critical, despite scoring 13 goals in the top flight this season.

Over City’s last eight games he has netted just twice though, but Guardiola refused to criticise his star striker.

He said: “Without him we will be even worse but I like the players feeling that way. I don’t agree with Erling. He needs to have the balls delivered in the right spots but he will fight for the next one.”

Dias, who suffered the injury in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat by Manchester United, will miss the entire festive programme and potentially the FA Cup third-round tie with Salford on 11 January.

The 27-year-old also faces a battle to be fit for City’s crucial Champions League trip to Paris St-Germain on 22 January.

Dias has already missed seven games with a calf injury this season, adding to a defensive injury list that has seen John Stones, Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji and Kyle Walker all ruled out at various points, while Ballon d’Or winner Rodri will miss the remainder of the domestic season after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury.

“It’s a muscular problem and he will be out for three to four weeks,” said Guardiola.

“After 75 minutes against United he felt something. But he’s so strong and wanted to stay on the pitch. Now he’s injured.”

Guardiola confirmed Stones, Akanji and midfielder Mateo Kovacic have all trained this week and could feature at Aston Villa on Saturday (12:30 GMT), but said goalkeeper Ederson was “a doubt” with an unspecified problem.

Amid City’s current run of one win in 11 games, surprise has been expressed about Guardiola’s use of youngsters James McAtee and Nico O’Reilly.

City made a point of keeping both players despite numerous loan options. Yet McAtee has made just two substitute appearances – coming on in the last minute on both occasions – while O’Reilly is yet to make his league debut.

But it seems they will stay at the club for the second half of the season, with Guardiola replying “I don’t think so” when asked if players might leave during the January transfer window.

Guardiola ‘honest’ with his feelings

Guardiola’s mood was so downbeat in the immediate aftermath of the United defeat it was easy to imagine he might conclude he was no longer capable of doing the job.

He gave his players a couple of days off afterwards and was brighter when he spoke to journalists in his scheduled briefing before the Villa trip.

“We’d just finished a game that we lost in the circumstances and I was not happy,” he said.

“I try to be honest about the feelings of my teams. We fell down six times [number of Premier League games without a win], we have to stand up seven. There is no alternative.

“I’m fine. I’m a normal person with feelings like all of us. When the situation is going well we are better but it’s normal. I would not go to the press conference if we were 1-0 up and expressing something that I didn’t feel.”

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Match background

Liverpool have established themselves as title contenders – perhaps even title favourites – thanks to their outstanding form in the early months of manager Arne Slot’s tenure. They have come through some notable tests with flying colours, but facing the reigning champions will be the true test of just how determined the Reds are to go all the way in this season’s Premier League.

As for Manchester City, a notable losing streak just before the recent international break sparked talks of a crisis. In truth, the Citizens merely stumbled due to a combination of mounting injuries and lack of concentration in key moments, but the sting of those failures will make them – and manager Pep Guardiola – all the more hungry to claim a statement result on Merseyside.

What the teams are saying

Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister on the evolution of the team under Arne Slot:

“So, the system has changed a little, but the main ideas are the same. I think perhaps the big change is in having that patience to have longer periods of possession and dominate games more and obviously that creates more chances.”

Man City’s Pep Guardiola on bouncing back after their recent rocky form:

“When the players come back I have no doubts we’ll be back to the best. This is my challenge, I love a challenge. I won’t step back, more than ever I want to do it. We will try again. It looks like excuses. This is what I feel. When we play bad, I’m the first to say. I don’t have that feeling.”

Players to watch

Mohamed Salah, Liverpool – The Egyptian forward has played some of the best football of his career in the early stages of Arne Slot’s tenure at Liverpool. Racking up a healthy number of goals and assists, Salah has firmly re-established himself as one of the Premier League’s most deadly attacking players.

Erling Haaland, Man City – Though City have had their struggles this season, their Norwegian powerhouse striker has continued to bang in the goals with impressive regularity. The Citizens will hope Haaland can inspire them to a key victory at Anfield come Sunday evening.

Head-to-head

In head-to-head stats, Liverpool and Man City have met in 226 matches across all competitions since 1893. The Reds have claimed 108 wins compared to 60 for the Citizens, while 58 matches have been drawn. City are unbeaten in their last four matches against Liverpool, including successive 1-1 Premier League draws last season.

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Broadcast details

Sunday 1 December

18:00: Liverpool v Manchester City – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2

Pep Guardiola’s side had opened the scoring shortly before the interval when Erling Haaland converted from the spot, and looked to be cruising when quick-fire strikes at the start of the second half from Ilkay Gundogan and Haaland put the Premier League champions 3-0 up.

But, after Guardiola had made a trio of changes to rest Gundogan, Phil Foden and Nathan Ake, City fell apart in the second half.

An error by Josko Gvardiol saw the full-back play a no-look pass to Anis Hadj-Moussa, who took full advantage to score what initially appeared to be merely a consolation.

A rejuvenated Feyenoord further punished a lacklustre City late on, as substitute Santiago Gimenez made it 3-2 with a close-range finish before David Hancko finished off a terrific move to earn Feyenoord the unlikeliest of draws.

The result means City have won just two of their five UEFA Champions League games this season, leaving them at significant risk of missing out on one of the eight automatic qualification spots for the knockout stage.

Guardiola, who has managed City since 2016, has signed a new two-year deal that will run until 2027.

City have won six Premier League titles under Guardiola – twice pipping Liverpool teams managed by Jurgen Klopp by just a point.

The Reds finished ahead of City to win the title in 2020, and the two clubs have established one of the main rivalries in the top flight

Slot succeeded Klopp in the summer and has guided Liverpool to the top of the Premier League – five points clear of second-placed City – after 11 games.

Asked about Guardiola’s new contract, Slot said: “It’s good news for City and for the league because everyone wants the best managers and the best players over here.

“He is definitely one of the best managers, maybe the best manager of the league.

“He’s won four titles in a row so it’s fair to say he’s maybe the best manager in the league.

“On the other hand, they have so many quality players that, if he would have made the choice to leave, I wouldn’t have expected them to end up bottom of the league next season.”

Slot, speaking before his side’s trip to play Southampton on Sunday (14:00 GMT), said Guardiola was “one of the best managers football has ever had”.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss has won 18 trophies at City, including the Champions League in 2023.

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler echoed Slot’s sentiments, calling it the “best thing that can happen to the Premier League”.

Hurzeler said: “He is one of the best coaches in the world. With his ideas, he always brings something new to the football stage and it is always a challenge to compete against him.

“He always adapts quickly, always has new ideas and he can always win the game. I’m very happy because we can learn from him and to compete with him is a big, big experience.”

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe added: “He’s contributed so much to English football. He’s revolutionised how a lot of teams play.

“I think he’s incredibly talented and it’s good for the English game that he’s still here.

“He will continue to develop and evolve his style and people will potentially continue to follow that. From the competition side, I think it keeps the Premier League as the best in the world.”

Although City are refusing to comment on a story that was first reported in the Athletic, multiple sources have confirmed Guardiola has elected to sign a new deal to take his stay at the club to 10 years.

The 53-year-old joined City in 2016 and has won 18 trophies so far, including six Premier League titles.

His contract had been due to expire at the end of the current season. There have been suggestions the new agreement will have the option of a second year, although this is not known at this stage.

During his time in Manchester, Guardiola has seen City become just the second English men’s team to win the Treble – the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the same season.

They have also become the first team to win four successive English top-flight titles and to achieve 100 Premier League points.

City sit second in this season’s Premier League, five points behind leaders Liverpool, and are on a run of four successive defeats across all competitions.

That is the first time Guardiola has been on such a dismal streak – excluding shootouts – in his career.

After the most recent of those losses, a 2-1 defeat at Brighton, he said: “Maybe after seven years winning six Premier Leagues, maybe one year another team deserve it.”

Guardiola has previously signed extensions in May 2018, November 2020 and November 2022.

Speaking in May after City’s historic fourth successive league title, Guardiola said he was “closer to leaving than staying”.

Guardiola then said “part of me is leaving” when director of football Txiki Begiristain announced in October that he – a long-time ally – would be leaving City at the end of the season.

Former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss Guardiola said he wanted to be “really convinced” that any extension “is the best for the club”.

The uncertainty over Guardiola’s future has been cited by some as a reason for the club’s poor form.

There is also no timescale for the outcome of the disciplinary case brought by the Premier League for the 115 charges against City, which the club deny but could bring a huge sanction if guilt was established. Guardiola has continually backed the club and said critics need to wait for the final decision in the case before rushing to condemn the club.

He is the longest-serving manager in the Premier League, after Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool in the summer.

It is the first time since 2006 that City have lost four in a row.

Manchester City looked on course to end their disappointing sequence when Erling Haaland capped an impressive opening at Amex Stadium in the 23rd minute, scoring at the second attempt from Mateo Kovacic’s pass.

Brighton, however, held their nerve, taking complete control after the break – and it was only their poor finishing that prevented them drawing level before substitute Joao Pedro pounced in a scramble 12 minutes from time.

City, who had looked increasingly vulnerable, were on the rack and Brighton took a deserved lead when Matt O’Riley, who has been out injured since his debut following a move from Celtic, burst through an exposed defence to beat keeper Ederson five minutes later.

Brighton earned the reward after passing up a number of chances, with Jack Hinshelwood heading straight at Ederson from point-blank range and Georginio Rutter also missing a golden opportunity before City crumbled under the constant pressure.

The Spurs boss claimed recently he always wins silverware in his second season – and remained on course to fulfil his promise after an entertaining, eventful encounter.

Timo Werner, who had a mixed evening, scored his first goal of the season with an emphatic finish after five minutes, before Pape Sarr doubled the home advantage 20 minutes later with a with superb low right-foot finish from 25 yards.

Spurs, though, suffered a setback when they lost key defender Micky van de Ven with a hamstring injury in the 14th minute, and City setting up a tense second half when Matheus Nunes pulled one back in the fourth minute of first-half added time.

City keeper Stefan Ortega kept his side in the contest with fine saves from Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevki and Richarlison, while Werner fired wide when clean through before limping off with a groin muscle injury.

City, who suffered a casualty of their own when the lively Savinho was taken off on a stretcher, almost snatched a late leveller, but Yves Bissouma made a superb block on the line from Nico O’Reilly’s effort.

Spurs, without a trophy since their 2008 win in this competition, will be delighted to have bounced back from the weekend’s disappointing Premier League loss at Crystal Palace with such a significant win.

City dominated the early stages before Raul Jimenez’s outstanding backheel cross enabled Andreas Pereira to score from close range.

Adama Traore missed two big chances either side of that – being denied by Ederson in a one-on-one and then skying a shot from inside the box.

And City midfielder Kovacic made him pay.

His first was a first-time effort from a half-cleared corner that went in via a deflection.

And his second, shortly into the second half, was a much cleaner strike from the edge of the area.

There was almost a twist, as Traore beat Kyle Walker for pace before again shooting at Ederson.

In fact, City conceded several more chances before Jeremy Doku drifted in from the left and crashed a fantastic strike into the far top corner.

At that stage you thought surely City were home and dry but they left substitute Rodrigo Muniz free in the box to give Fulham renewed hope late on.

But Marco Silva’s side could not muster an equaliser.

City are now unbeaten in 50 home games in all competitions, the fourth English top-flight side to ever manage that.

The 28-year-old limped out of Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday following a collision with Thomas Partey.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says Rodri has now had surgery on his knee and will miss the rest of the campaign.

“He had surgery this morning – ACL and some meniscus,” Guardiola said on Friday.

“So, next season he will be here. This season is over [for him].”

Guardiola said Rodri was “irreplaceable” during last season’s title run-in, in which City pipped Arsenal to win their fourth consecutive league title.

Rodri missed five games last season and City lost four of them.

“Unfortunately we got the worst (news) but these things happen,” added Guardiola. “We will be there to support him in his recovery step-by-step.

“What he gives us, we don’t have a similar player.

“But the others can all together replace what Rodri has given since his arrival to us. We will have to do it as a team and find a way to play a lot of matches without an important player for us.”

Meanwhile, City are set to be without Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne for their Premier League trip to Newcastle United on Saturday (12:30 BST).

De Bruyne missed the draw with Arsenal and may not return to action until after the international break in October.

Rodri’s importance

Since joining from Atletico Madrid in 2019, City have lost just 11% of the matches in which Rodri has featured, compared with 24% without the Spaniard.

Rodri was making his first start of the Premier League season against Arsenal, having sustained a hamstring injury during Spain’s 2-1 win against England in the Euro 2024 final in July that kept him out for six weeks.

The midfielder was voted player of the tournament as Spain won the trophy for a fourth time and is one of the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or next month – given to the world’s best player.

Earlier this month the former Atletico Madrid player, who played 63 times for City and Spain last season, claimed players are “close to” striking over an increase in the number of games in the calendar, including an expanded Champions League and Club World Cup.

On a night when 16-year-old Kaden Braithwaite became the third-youngest player to start a game for City, and the youngest under Guardiola, Nunes followed up Jeremy Doku’s fifth-minute opener with a precise first-half finish.

A £53m signing from Wolves just over a year ago, Nunes has not made the impact envisaged.

The Portugal international started just seven times last season and so far this term has been limited to just 20 minutes’ Premier League action across three substitute appearances.

But Guardiola has not discarded Nunes in the same way he exiled another expensive midfield purchase, Kalvin Phillips, and just two days after the pulsating draw with Arsenal he stepped into the breach with an eye-catching display.

In addition to his goal, a low shot from the edge of the area that found the bottom corner, he also had a well-hit second-half shot saved by Watford keeper Jonathan Bond and had another goal-bound effort blocked.

Doku was one of two City starters who kept their place from the Arsenal encounter and he profited from Ryan Porteous’ poor early backpass that allowed James McAtee to steal possession away from Bond. As the ball was recycled to the edge of the area, the Belgian applied the finish.

It helped condemn Watford to a 16th straight defeat against City, although given they had conceded 26 times in their past five losses alone, this could be regarded as a moral victory for Tom Cleverley’s side, with Tom Ince giving them hope of taking the game to penalties with what turned out to be an 86th-minute consolation.

City striker Haaland collected the ball from the net after John Stones’ goal and threw it at the back of the Arsenal defender, who was looking the other way and had put his shirt over his head in frustration.

The Video Assistant Referee reviewed the incident but chose not to intervene because it was not deemed a red card offence.

The Football Association says it will not take any further action over any of the incidents during the 2-2 draw at Etihad Stadium, including a heated exchange between the players at the final whistle.

“The one thing that boiled me up properly was Haaland’s coward’s move,” Wright said in a video on Instagram.

“Throwing the ball at Gabi’s head when he’s not looking. When Gabi’s back’s turned to him. Real coward’s move. Gabi would look him in the eye, you know.

“That’s what bothered me more than anything else. I thought you [Haaland] were bigger than that.”

Goals from Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori cancelled out Haaland’s early opener at Etihad Stadium, before Gunners forward Leandro Trossard was sent off just before half-time.

Mikel Arteta’s side defended valiantly with 10 men after the break but were denied victory when Stones fired home in the eighth minute of added time.

The draw keeps City one point clear at the top of the Premier League with Arsenal two points adrift in fourth.

The clock read 97 minutes and 14 seconds – those 14 seconds crucial to the chaotic conclusion – when John Stones rewarded Manchester City’s increasingly desperate efforts with an equaliser.

City manager Pep Guardiola led celebrations that smacked of victory rather than a point claimed at the last, this in itself a testimony to tortuous experience this increasingly mature and steely Arsenal put them through.

Arsenal were heartbroken but when the bitter disappointment disperses they can look back on this brilliantly organised and brave performance, laced, it must be said, with high levels of gamesmanship, as further compelling evidence that they are the real deal.

This was billed as the clash of the Premier League heavyweights, the opportunity to inflict early psychological blows with City and Arsenal primed for a title race to the finish.

For once, the hype and high expectations were justified, with even the weather obliging with biblical conditions and black clouds overhead that set a mood of foreboding.

Erling Haaland, with inevitability, crowned a ferocious City start after nine minutes with his 100th goal in 105 starts – but that was as good as it got for the champions until Stones stepped in.

City’s peerless midfield man Rodri, who had already been pole-axed by Kai Havertz’s shoulder seconds after kick-off, limped away 21 minutes later following an awkward tangle with Thomas Partey at a corner.

Seconds later Arsenal were level, Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori making amends for letting Savinho escape too easily for Haaland’s opener, with a sumptuous finish that left Guardiola in a rage, kicking his seat in frustration at referee Michael Oliver allowing a quick free-kick and his players for being caught by it.

Gabriel repeated the treatment meted out to Tottenham by heading Arsenal ahead from a corner at the far post in first-half stoppage time before the moment that shaped the rest of this gripping game.

Leandro Trossard followed up a clumsy barge on Bernardo Silva by booting the ball away. It was a lesson not learned after Declan Rice was sent off for a similar offence against Brighton recently. As the saying goes, he gave the referee a decision to make and he made it. Off he went.

Trossard can have no complaints but Arsenal can cry injustice, as they did against Brighton, about inconsistency as City’s Jeremy Doku escaped punished for the same offence earlier.

It changed the entire emphasis for the visitors, who had to revert to a rearguard action after overturning City’s lead and taking control.

The stage was set for a siege on the Gunners’ goal and so it proved. Pretty much every gaze inside a frantic Etihad Stadium was fixed on one side of the pitch for that 53-minute second half.

Arsenal only had 22% possession overall, their second lowest recorded since 2003/04, after 20% against City in August 2011. The picture of the second half is accurately painted by the fact they only had 12.5% possession.

It is a measure of Arsenal’s defensive discipline that they could spend so much time without the ball against a side of City’s quality and survive for so long, although not quite long enough.

They retreated into their area but such was their organisation, courage, numbers and willingness to throw themselves in front of anything, that seconds ticked down to what would have been their first victory here since January 2015 and Guardiola’s first home loss in the league since Brentford won in November 2022.

The champions got their goal – but only just.

City managed only one shot on target against Arsenal in March’s goalless draw at the Etihad. Plenty more came in here but keeper David Raya confirmed his growing stature and importance with confident command of his area and an ability to use all parts of his anatomy.

Arteta was rightly proud amid the pain, insisting his side had performed “a miracle” in holding out for so long.

“Absolutely I am proud,” he said. “The way the players performed in normal conditions was excellent.

“It was difficult, which is why they have not lost here for 40-something games. Then there is the context that we are thrown into playing with ten men for 55 minutes. That tells you the story and the character of our players.”

It was a display of defiance that would have brought tears to the eyes of those old Arsenal warhorses Tony Adams and Martin Keown, not to mention the suspicion among City fans that the dark arts of delay were being utilised as play was interrupted by injury breaks to Raya and others, infuriating the home support.

The time is coming to end the regular questions about the Gunners’ mettle, character and stomach for the fight.

Arsenal’s early fixture list handed them three hazardous assignments away to Aston Villa, Tottenham and Manchester City. The first two were won in gritty fashion while they were only seconds away from what they could have rightly regarded as a landmark triumph in the third.

The Stones scramble prevented Arteta’s side claiming top spot in the Premier League and ensured City returned to the summit but everything on show here should give the Gunners, if it were needed, further confidence and self-belief that the ability to make the leap to champions is within their grasp.

It remains to be seen what wider significance that late concession of two points to the side they are trying to eclipse assumes for Arsenal but, in extremis, they showed again there is much to admire in what Arteta is building.

City were charged and referred to an independent commission in February 2023 following a four-year investigation.

It is alleged City breached the Premier League’s financial rules between 2009 and 2018.

City strongly deny all charges and have said their case is supported by a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence”.

“It starts soon and hopefully finishes soon,” Guardiola said of the hearing. “An independent panel will decide and I am looking forward to the decision.

“I’m happy it’s starting on Monday. I know there will be more rumours, new specialists about the sentences. We’re going to see. I know what people are looking forward to, what they expect, I know, what I read for many, many years.

“Everybody is innocent until guilt is proven. So we’ll see.”

Billed as sport’s ‘trial of the century’, it is expected to run for 10 weeks – with a verdict likely in early 2025.

The Premier League has also accused the reigning champions of not co-operating with its investigation.

When the Premier League investigation began, City said the allegations were “entirely false” and that allegations originally published in German newspaper Der Spiegel came from “illegal hacking and out of context publication of City emails”.

If found guilty of the most serious charges, City could be hit with a points deduction serious enough to condemn them to relegation – or even expulsion – from the Premier League.

City have won eight league titles, multiple cups and the Champions League since their 2008 takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group.

What are the 115 charges?

• 54x Failure to provide accurate financial information 2009-10 to 2017-18.

• 14x Failure to provide accurate details for player and manager payments from 2009-10 to 2017-18.

• 5x Failure to comply with Uefa’s rules including Financial Fair Play (FFP) 2013-14 to 2017-18.

• 7x Breaching Premier League’s PSR rules 2015-16 to 2017-18.

• 35x Failure to co-operate with Premier League investigations December 2018 – February 2023.

During an interview with the club’s media, Gvardiol reflected on his first season in the Premier League and highlighted Kudus’ impact in their initial encounter on September 16, 2023.

Despite Kudus starting on the bench, Gvardiol said the Ghana attacker made an immediate impression after coming on as a substitute, showcasing his pace and skill.

Gvardiol specifically recalled their final match of the 2023/2024 season, where Kudus left a lasting mark with a stunning bicycle kick goal.

The Croatian defender acknowledged that Kudus’ sharpness and ball control made him a formidable challenge.

Man City defender Josko Gvardiol says 🇬🇭 Mohammed Kudus was his toughest opponent last season.

He also added that Kudus will show a lot more of his quality this year. pic.twitter.com/Js3bFlZMKX

— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo) September 4, 2024

“Mohammed Kudus from West Ham was my toughest opponent. In the first game, he was on the bench, and when he came on for the last twenty minutes, he was on my side.

“I realized that he was quite good. He looks sharp and was good on the ball. In the second game of the season, he even scored a bicycle kick. He was the one I struggled against,” he said.

Gvardiol also sent his best wishes to Kudus for the upcoming 2024/2025 season, expressing his belief that the Ghanaian star has the potential to establish himself as one of the world’s best players.

“I think he is the one who deserves attention, and I believe this season he’s going to come out and show his quality,” he said.

Kudus had an outstanding debut season in England, netting 14 goals and providing six assists across all competitions.

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The Belgian had said he was “open to everything” and spoke to his family about possibly leaving City after being linked with a move to Saudi Arabia at the end of last season.

The 33-year-old joined the current Premier League champions in 2015 from German club Wolfsburg, one year before Pep Guardiola’s appointment as manager.

Guardiola insisted in recent months that De Bruyne would not be sold and the Belgian playmaker says he never held discussions with potential buyers about a transfer.

“I haven’t spoken to anyone, to be honest,” De Bruyne told BBC Radio Manchester.

“There has been a lot of noises and news. I said in the summer I expect a quiet summer and that’s actually what happened. I’ve been on holiday for four weeks, came back and started training. That was it. Nothing to tell.

“I’ve not been entertained by anybody or spoken to anybody.”

De Bruyne has one year to run on his existing deal at City and is anticipating talks with the club about his future.

“Once the season goes on, I’m sure there will be conversations to be had with City,” he said.

“I just want to feel good, play good football and this will come in the upcoming months. I don’t really feel the rush for the moment.”

Guardiola’s side have made a 100% winning start to their Premier League title defence.

De Bruyne has started all three matches, scoring once and providing one assist.

The midfielder, who has been selected by Belgium for Nations League fixtures against Israel and France this month, has won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five EFL Cups and one Champions League title during his time at the club.

The 30-year-old Portugal international joined Pep Guardiola’s side from Juventus for £60m in 2019 and became a key component of the side.

However, following a disagreement with Guardiola, the full-back was sent out on loan to Bayern Munich in January 2023 and he spent last season at Barcelona.

Guardiola had indicated earlier this summer that Cancelo might have a future at the club, but he was not involved in City’s two Premier League games this season.

Cancelo made 154 appearances for City, scoring nine goals.

Personal terms are not thought to be a problem, although Cancelo is yet to agree to the move.

If he does, the 30-year-old is expected to sign a three-year contract, ending his five-year stay at Etihad Stadium.

City manager Pep Guardiola said this month Cancelo could play for the club again.

However, the disagreement which led to Cancelo spending time on loan with Bayern Munich and Barcelona over the past 18 months was always likely to prove a major stumbling block.

Cancelo has not been involved in City’s two Premier League games this season.

He also missed the Community Shield victory over Manchester United when a number of City players were unavailable having featured at the European Championship in Germany.

Initially, the Portugal defender became Guardiola’s first inverted full-back, but then lost his place just months after signing a new contract in 2022.

Walker has enjoyed a glittering career at City, winning the Premier League six times as well as two FA Cups, four EFL Cups and the Champions League.

He has been capped 90 times by England and is widely regarded as one of the best right-backs in the world.

Speaking on the You’ll Never Beat Kyle Walker podcast the 34-year-old opened up on the influence his dad Michael has had on his career.

Walker said his father “made me be the person and player that I am” and at the start of his career it was about “proving my dad wrong” after he criticised his performances as a youngster.

“I used to hate going to football with him,” said Walker, who has also played for Sheffield United and Tottenham – and had loan spells at QPR, Aston Villa and Northampton.

“No matter if I played good or I played bad, I’d get in the car and I’d be reduced to tears. He’d say I wouldn’t have done this right, I wouldn’t have done that right.

“He didn’t do it because he wanted to hurt me. He did it because he cared.”

Walker acknowledged his mother Tracey provided the “caring support” he needed and it took him a long time to win over his father with how he played on the pitch.

“Sometimes it was very, very tough to get in that car, my mum would be going ‘Michael, leave him alone he’s done well’,” Walker said.

“I could have scored three goals. But he would have said, ‘no, you should have scored six’. Only when I’ve got older in my career, he actually says ‘all right, well played son’.

“After a couple of years at City. I think he was then like ‘you know, he actually can play football’.”

Walker said he does “not do the same” with his own children in terms of critiquing their performances, although he does tap into some aspects of his father’s parenting style.

“I still feel that some of the things in life – where he’s taught me to be a winner – I’m trying to embed that into the boys,” he added.

“With my kids now, I don’t let them win. If I keep letting them win, when they lose, it’s going to be traumatic for them.

“We’ll play a little game in the garden or something and I’ll give it my all because I feel that it’s going to install that into them.”

It is the first time since City have won the top-flight curtain raiser since beating Liverpool 5-4 on penalties in 2019 and puts an end to their three-year run of losing in this fixture (2021, 2022 and 2023).

Substitute Alejandro Garnacho looked to have won the Community Shield for Manchester United when he cut inside and fired home a fantastic effort with just eight minutes of normal time left on the clock.

However, that was before fellow substitute Bernardo Silva popped up in the 89th minute to head home Oscar Bobb’s cross some eight minutes after entering the fray.

The Community Shield then went to a penalty shootout for the fourth time in six seasons, with Manuel Akanji capitalising on Jonny Evans’ miss by converting his decisive spot-kick to win the shootout 7-6 and earn Pep Guardiola’s side their first trophy of the 2024/25 season.

The fee is made up of an initial £64.4m (75m euros) with a further £17.1m (20m euros) in potential add-ons.

It would be a record sale for City, surpassing the £50m Chelsea paid for Raheem Sterling in 2022.

Alvarez said he would wait until Argentina’s involvement in the 2024 Olympics football ended before making a decision on his future. The team were knocked out by hosts France last Friday.

Manager Pep Guardiola had been keen to keep the 24-year-old and the Spaniard said earlier in August that he “counted” on Alvarez ahead of the start of the season.

“I count on him, but he said in the news that decisions will be made all together,” said Guardiola.

But, as has been the case in the past with Ilkay Gundogan, Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte, City will not stand in the way of a player who wants to leave.

Atletico, who have also agreed a deal to sign Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, are yet to agree personal terms with Alvarez.

The Argentine, who joined City in 2022 in a £14.1m deal from River Plate, has scored 36 goals in 106 appearances for Guardiola’s side.

Alvarez won the Treble during his first season at the Etihad and the striker featured during Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory in Qatar midway through the campaign.

The club accepted they breached Premier League rules 22 times “without good reason” and were fined £2.09m.

When asked to comment on the situation, Guardiola said: “I just read it in the news. I would try to do my speeches at half-time shorter.”

He was speaking before Saturday’s pre-season match against Chelsea in Columbus, USA.

With so few senior players at his disposal after Euro 2024 and the Copa America, Guardiola has given significant minutes to Norway striker Erling Haaland after his national team failed to qualify for the summer tournament.

Guardiola, who previously said Haaland had “muscle niggles”, said: “He woke up and feels much better. And hopefully he can play a few minutes.”

Guardiola refused to comment on rumours that Atletico Madrid are in talks for striker Julian Alvarez, who is currently away at the Olympics in Paris with Argentina.

But he reseved some kind words for his opposite number Enzo Maresca, who was a former member of his staff but is now managing Chelsea.

“I’m really pleased for him,” Guardiola added. “We spent a special year together.

“He is an incredible, lovely person. And his family too.

“He did a really good job – unbelievable – at Leicester: promotion to the Premier League and now he is in one of the top five, six teams in England.

“And I wish him the best because he deserves it. Nice people deserve the best.

“And as a manager he has success because he has the most important thing. To be a manager is believing something deeply but, really, deeply, deeply.

“And whatever the results, I stick with my idea. And that’s why he believes in what he does.

“And he will have success. I don’t know how long, but he will have it.”

In their final match of the 2023/24 Premier League season, the Hammers faced the defending champions at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

After Phil Foden’s quick brace put City ahead, Kudus changed the momentum with a stunning goal in the 42nd minute.

The former Ajax star flicked the ball up and executed a perfect overhead kick, beating goalkeeper Stefan Ortega and narrowing the score to 2-1 by halftime.

City’s Rodri restored their two-goal lead with a shot from the edge of the box in the 59th minute, securing a 3-1 victory and clinching the Premier League title for the fourth consecutive year.

“As an attacker, I was doing my best to get the team back in the game,” Kudus told the club’s official website.

“We didn’t give up at 2-0, and it gave the team the energy to fight back. I’m glad it went in. It was one of those moments where instinct took over, and I trusted my abilities. It’s not the first time I’ve done something like this.

“I just went for it, and I’m glad it inspired the team to push harder,” he added.

Kudus has scored 14 goals in various competitions for West Ham United in his debut Premier League season.

He now turns his attention to the Black Stars’ upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Mali and the Central African Republic on June 6 and 10, respectively, in Bamako and at the Baba Yara Stadium.

In the climactic showdown of the 2023/24 Premier League season, West Ham ventured to the Etihad Stadium on a Sunday afternoon.

Pep Guardiola and his formidable squad were poised to clinch the Premier League title for an unprecedented fourth consecutive time, and surged ahead with two quick goals courtesy of Phil Foden, seemingly on a smooth path to glory.

Yet, Kudus electrified the atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium with a moment of brilliance in the 42nd minute, altering the course of the game.

The genesis of the goal lay in a curling corner delivered by James Ward-Prowse. Amidst the chaos, as Gvardiol faltered in his clearance attempt, the ball found its way to Kudus.

With a deft touch, the former Ajax maestro lofted the ball, executing a flawless overhead kick past goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, igniting jubilation and narrowing the halftime score to 2-1.

However, in the second half, Rodri reinstated Manchester City’s comfortable lead with a precise strike from the edge of the box after 59 minutes, sealing a 3-1 victory and securing the Premier League crown for the fourth consecutive season.

Reflecting on Kudus’s sublime finish on Sky Sports, Neville drew parallels to a similar feat achieved by Alejandro Garnacho earlier in the season for Manchester United.

“An incredible goal. It’s similar to the Alejandro Garnacho goal at Everton. It is brilliant from Mohammed Kudus,” Neville said.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Kudus has notched up an impressive tally of 14 goals across various competitions in his debut season with West Ham United in the Premier League.

With his sights set on international duties, Kudus will now shift focus to the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers with the Black Stars, facing Mali and the Central African Republic on June 6 and 10 respectively, in Bamako and at the Baba Yara Stadium.

The Hammers were hosted at the Etihad Stadium in the crucial final game in the Premier League.

Pep Guardiola’s side took an early control with two early goals from Phil Foden, appearing to cruise towards the title.

However, Kudus shifted the momentum at the Etihad Stadium with a stunning goal in the 42nd minute.

It’s already pretty good, but Mohammed Kudus’ goal collection just got a whole lot better ???

Arsenal fans will be hoping it can spark a comeback for the Hammers ?

? Stream live: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/a2xwet6B5D

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) May 19, 2024

The goal originated from an inswinging corner by James Ward-Prowse. After Gvardiol failed to clear, a West Ham player headed the ball, which then fell to Kudus.

The former Ajax star flicked the ball up to himself and executed a perfect overhead kick past goalkeeper Stefan Ortega to end the first half 2-1.

However, after recess, Rodri restored the home side’s two-goal cushion with a shot from the edge of the area after 59 minutes to end the game 3- to annex the Premier League title for a fourth consecutive time.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Kudus has scored 14 goals in competitions for West Ham United in his first season in the Premier League.

Kudus will now focus on Black Stars’ upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Mali and the Central African Republic in June 6 and 10 respectively in Bamako and at the Baba Yara Stadium.

The defending champions will face West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium later today.

Guardiola’s team needs a win to secure the Premier League title for the fourth consecutive time.

In his pre-match comments, Guardiola expressed concern about West Ham’s key offensive threats, singling out Kudus as a particularly talented player.

“Right now, I’m not thinking at all about next season… because it’s all about West Ham. They have four attackers who can create something out of nothing,” Guardiola said, according to EuroFoot.

“Kudus is an exceptional player. Bowen has been outstanding for many years, and Antonio, when fit, is incredible. Paqueta is a top-class player with a wide range of skills.

“That’s why I’m focused. All four of them can produce something unique and special at any moment. That is my only concern right now,” he added.

Jarrod Bowen was named West Ham’s Player of the Season, with Kudus finishing second. Paqueta, meanwhile, has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City in the upcoming transfer window.

In his debut Premier League season, Mohammed Kudus has scored 13 goals across all competitions for the Hammers and has attracted interest from top European clubs.

Haaland made his first appearance since fracturing his foot in the defeat at Aston Villa on 6 December when he was introduced as a 71st-minute substitute at Etihad Stadium.

However, while the Norwegian’s major involvement was to draw laughs from team-mates Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic on the bench when he mis-kicked what was intended to be a shot on the turn, Alvarez turned 24 in style.

The Argentine took man-of-the-match honours by becoming just the 10th player to score two goals or more on their birthday in a Premier League game.

Both efforts came in the opening period. Matheus Nunes chipped a superb cross into the six-yard box for Alvarez to head home in the 16th minute.

And just six minutes later, Alvarez profited from a brilliantly worked training ground free-kick routine as Kevin de Bruyne shaped to curl a cross into the box but instead rolled a perfect 20-yard pass which just needed the first-time finish.

Rodri added a third in trademark fashion in the opening minute of the second-half, driving home Phil Foden’s cut-back from the edge of the area.

Burnley boss, and former City captain, Vincent Kompany would have been pleased with the way his side kept battling until the end.

They were at least able to grab an injury-time consolation as defender Ameen Al-Dakhil bundled in their first goal in seven visits to this stadium since 2018.

They were ultimately powerless, though, to stop second-placed City’s eighth successive win all competitions and 13th consecutive victory against Burnley.

The result allows Pep Guardiola’s side to keep pace with Liverpool and Arsenal in their chase for an unprecedented fourth consecutive league title – and keeps second-bottom Burnley mired in relegation trouble, with only three victories all season.

Pep Guardiola’s side had failed to score in their previous five visits to Spurs’ home and that unwanted record looked set to extend until Ake bundled home from close range after Guglielmo Vicario flapped at Kevin De Bruyne’s corner.

All eyes had been on De Bruyne and Tottenham playmaker James Maddison after a lacklustre first half and while the former helped break the deadlock, it was an uncharacteristic City goal that fired them to a seventh straight win.

Ange Postecoglou’s team could have little complaints and this cup loss means the club’s trophy drought will almost certainly extend into a 17th year.

These teams had played out a 3-3 draw at the Etihad last month, but both the club’s respective top goalscorers Son Heung-min and Erling Haaland were absent while playmakers Maddison and De Bruyne had to be content with a place on the bench.

City’s notoriously poor record at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was well documented and Guardiola’s side almost broke their duck in the fifth minute when Oscar Bobb tapped home on the goal line.

Bobb pounced after Vicario had denied Phil Foden from close range, but City youngster Bobb was adjudged by VAR to be marginally offside and it remained 0-0.

The visitors continued to seek a maiden goal at this venue and after Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic had efforts blocked, Guardiola let out his first sign of exasperation when Josko Gvardiol sent a cross into the stand.

Spurs had barely had a kick but were given some unexpected respite when a three-minute delay to proceedings occurred due to one of Paul Tierney’s assistant referees having an issue with his technical equipment.

When play did get back underway, normal service resumed and a succession of last-ditch defending denied City in the 41st minute with Bobb’s left-footed strike thwarted by Pedro Porro’s block.

Foden was the next to try his luck but fired wide from Bobb’s cutback to ensure it was goalless at the break.

Micky van de Ven made a vital intervention straight after half-time when Julian Alvarez had a sight of goal before Tottenham finally caused a moment of panic for the away side.

Timo Werner sent Brennan Johnson through on goal, but City’s backup goalkeeper Stefan Ortega was out quick to dive at the feet of the forward.

It reenergised the home crowd although Guardiola turned to his ace in the pack with 65 minutes on the clock when De Bruyne was introduced.

Postecoglou followed suit eight minutes later and Maddison earned a hero’s reception on his return, but his first involvement was to bundle Silva to the floor in the penalty area.

Referee Tierney waved away appeals before Spurs and in particular Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg received two slices of luck.

A Hojbjerg air kick allowed Silva a chance but he fired straight at Vicario before Tottenham’s Danish midfielder gave away possession to Foden.

Foden teed up De Bruyne, who inexplicably curled wide from 16 yards and when Vicario saved from Jeremy Doku moments later, a replay was on the cards.

Ake had other ideas and when Vicario flapped at De Bruyne’s corner, the City defender was on hand to poke home and send the holders through to the last 16.

Ceferin recently told the Telegraph that Uefa “were right” to give City a two-year European football ban in 2020.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the punishment on appeal.

City are also contesting claims by the Premier League that the club have broken their financial rules.

“As a lawyer that he is and president of Uefa, he should wait and after do whatever he wants,” said Guardiola.

“He has to respect it and he has to wait. He has a lot of jobs to do at Uefa. A lawyer should respect the procedure and understand we have a right to defend ourselves.”

City were charged with 115 breaches of Premier League regulations in February last year.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters says a date has been set for the hearing but, speaking in front of MPs earlier this month, he said he could not reveal when it will take place.

City lifted the Fifa Club World Cup last week but have faltered in the Premier League so far this season.

The Treble winners are fifth in the table, with a game in hand, and visit Everton in the league on Wednesday.

“Now we go to the shop, buy another book and start to write again,” said Guardiola on his side’s trophy haul.

City’s Treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League last season was followed by the Uefa Super Cup in August.

The 4-0 win against Brazilians Fluminense in Saudi Arabia gave City their fifth trophy of the calendar year – making them the first English club to achieve the feat.

“I have a feeling the job is done,” Guardiola said. “I thought about when we won the Champions League but then I thought ‘Super Cup, we don’t have it, World Cup, we don’t have it’.

“Now we have everything.”

This season, City have reached the last 16 of the Champions League – where they will face Copenhagen – with two games to spare and a 100% record.

But heading into the busy league period, Guardiola finds his side on 34 points, six behind leaders Arsenal, with only one win in the previous six top-flight games.

“When you don’t win, you are nothing, zero,” he said. “They are waiting around the corner. People say ‘you don’t accept criticism’. It is part of the job.

“If you are in the business of being a football manager, you have to accept people will criticise you just because you don’t win. OK, we have to try and win the next game.

“What you have done in the past, as much as you win, the more they want you to fail.

“I have felt that since the day we won the sextuple with Barcelona [in 2009]. But the titles we have won are unbelievable.

“People give credit just because we win. You have to look further than that. The moment we don’t win, they will pick apart absolutely everything.

“But that is what is nice. It is OK. We go again and we will see what happens.”

In the league since 12 November, City have drawn with Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Crystal Palace, picked up a 2-1 victory against Luton Town after going a goal down and fallen to a 1-0 defeat by Aston Villa.

Guardiola felt his side played “incredibly well” in the drawn fixtures, but as City did not convert these matches into wins, he said the club’s form would be perceived as “a disaster, a crisis, everything”.

He did, however, acknowledge Villa “were better” when Unai Emery’s side bet them at Villa Park in early December.

The Treble winners have not won in four league matches and are six points behind leaders Arsenal in the Premier League.

After their 1-0 loss at Aston Villa on Wednesday night manager Pep Guardiola admitted his side “are struggling”.

And former Arsenal defender Martin Keown believes the champions are “in a mini-crisis”, telling BBC Match of the Day “they look vulnerable”.

Leon Bailey’s 74th-minute deflected shot gave Villa a deserved victory – one which meant City dropped to fourth in the table, behind Villa, Liverpool and Arsenal.

With so many challenges emerging, is City’s crown starting to slip after three successive titles?

Best of the stats – Worst defensive start since 2009

The stats do not look good for a Manchester City side hunting a record-breaking fourth consecutive Premier League title.

• City have gone four Premier League games without a win for the first time since April 2017, having drawn with Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham before their loss Aston Villa.
• City conceded 17 goals across their first 15 Premier League matches for the first time since 2009-10 when they finished fifth.
• They attempted just two shots against Villa – the fewest ever by a Guardiola team in a game within Europe’s big five leagues (a run of 535 games)
• The 22 shots from Aston Villa was the joint-most faced by a Guardiola side in the same period
• Man City have lost all four matches Rodri has not played this season

It is worth mentioning though that in their 2018-19 title-winning season under Guardiola, City were 10 points off top spot after 19 games and still went on to win the Premier League with 98 points.

Do not count them out just yet.

Guardiola looks for ‘solutions’ to problems

After the disappointing defeat, Guardiola admitted “the better team won” and he “has to find a solution” to reverse City’s woes.

“We struggled, especially in the first half and the second was completely different,” the City manager told Amazon Prime. “In the final third, the quality of the pass and the movement, we didn’t find it all game.

“We know what’s our level and as a manager, we have to find a way to win games. We’re struggling a bit. I’m here to help them.”

City’s four defeats this season have come when influential midfielder Rodri has been out of the starting XI. The Spaniard missed the match with Villa through a one-match suspension.

With Rodri in the team, City are unbeaten in their past 43 matches and Guardiola added he has “to find a way to win without him”.

The Norway forward is the quickest player ever to score 40 goals in the competition – reaching the milestone in just 35 matches, 10 fewer than Ruud van Nistelrooy, the previous record holder.

His goal also sparked a comeback win that ensured City, already through to the last 16, secured top spot in Group G with a game to spare.

For an uncomfortable 40 minutes, it looked as though their proud 28-match unbeaten home European record was about to come to an end.

But the second-half introductions of Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku transformed City.

Within seconds, Alvarez had sent Haaland through to half the deficit – and with Doku’s running unbalancing the Leipzig defence, Phil Foden took advantage of the space he found after collecting Josko Gvardiol’s inside pass to level.

Three minutes from time, Alvarez completed the fightback, steadying himself eight yards out before delivering a precise finish to the corner after Foden had provided the cross.

The defeat was tough on Belgian forward Lois Openda, who cost Leipzig a club record fee when he signed from Lens in July – one that could reach 45m euros (£38.95m).

And he showed his quality with an excellent first-half double that had raised hopes of a shock win for the visitors on the ground where they lost 7-0 in last season’s knockout phase.

Defending champions City, who came into the game on the back of losses to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup and Wolves in the Premier League, looked in complete control in the first half.

Phil Foden gave them a deserved lead with a difficult shot on the bounce following a cutback by Rico Lewis, who impressed in a central midfield role.

Leipzig scored with their only shot on target, as Lois Openda raced onto a through ball before slotting the ball past Ederson via the inside of the post.

But it was all City from then with Foden hitting the post with a free-kick and Erling Haaland missing a host of chances.

Five minutes after coming off the bench, Alvarez lifted a perfectly weighted shot into the top corner from the edge of the box following a pass by Doku.

The Argentine then found Doku in space and he sped away to score a late third and seal the points.

City have now equalled the longest European unbeaten run by an English club – level on 16 with Leeds (1967-1968), Tottenham (1967-1972), Chelsea (2018-2019) and West Ham, whose run started last year and is still going too.

Pep Guardiola’s side will be relieved to get back to winning ways as they prepare to visit title rivals Arsenal on Sunday.

“I will not judge my team on results,” Guardiola told TNT Sports. “Both games were not the best results, but it is not easy when both teams defend with 10 in the box.

“If you think I will doubt my players, you are wrong. I rely on these guys unconditionally. We go to Arsenal, rest and hopefully in May we will arrive in the competitions being there.”