Manchester City Fall Short in Title Race Despite Strong Form
DIS88 covered a dramatic conclusion to the 2024–25 Premier League season as Manchester City, despite an impressive end-of-season run, fell just short of securing their fourth consecutive title. Pep Guardiola’s side finished in third place behind champions Liverpool and runners-up Arsenal, a result that reflects how fine the margins were at the top of English football this season.
A Season of High Expectations
Coming off the back of a historic treble in 2022–23 and a domestic double in 2023–24, Manchester City entered this campaign as favourites. With Erling Haaland spearheading the attack, Kevin De Bruyne back from injury, and new signings like Jérémy Doku and Josko Gvardiol bedding in, Guardiola had one of the deepest squads in Europe.
The early signs were promising. City won six of their opening seven games, with Haaland already hitting double digits by October. But familiar patterns of fixture congestion, injury setbacks, and unexpected dropped points emerged as the season progressed.
Mid-Season Wobbles and Lost Momentum
The title race was tightly contested from the outset, with Liverpool under new manager Arne Slot showing renewed energy and Arsenal continuing their strong form under Mikel Arteta. By Christmas, City sat second, two points behind Liverpool but with a game in hand.
However, January and February proved costly. A goalless draw at Brentford, a 2–2 home tie against Crystal Palace, and a surprise 1–0 loss away at Aston Villa saw City drop crucial points. Despite dominating in possession and xG in each of those matches, the inability to finish games off proved fatal to their title ambitions.
De Bruyne’s absence during that stretch due to a hamstring injury also hampered City’s midfield creativity, with Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden forced to carry the load. The departure of Riyad Mahrez the previous summer further reduced attacking variety on the right flank, leaving Guardiola’s side slightly predictable in buildup.
Resurgent Run Sparks Hope
After those setbacks, City responded with trademark ruthlessness. Between March and May, they went unbeaten in 10 games, scoring 27 goals and conceding only 4. Haaland rediscovered his scoring touch, including a hat-trick against Wolves and key goals against Chelsea and Spurs.
In April, a vital 2–1 win away at Arsenal gave the Citizens a brief moment of hope. Guardiola’s tactical tweak—moving John Stones into midfield—proved pivotal as City outplayed their London rivals. That result momentarily moved them to the top of the table, with Liverpool faltering in a 1–1 draw at Brighton.
But just as momentum built, City were held to a 2–2 draw by a resilient Manchester United at the Etihad. Bruno Fernandes’ late equalizer snatched two points from City, and that result, combined with Liverpool’s strong finish, ultimately determined the destination of the title.
Final Day Victory, But Not Enough
On the final day of the season, City cruised to a 3–0 win over Everton, with goals from Haaland, Julian Alvarez, and Foden. Yet, by then, their fate was out of their hands. Liverpool’s 4–1 win against Crystal Palace meant the title headed to Anfield, and Arsenal’s dramatic late comeback at Southampton secured second place.
City finished third with 83 points—just three behind Liverpool and one behind Arsenal. It’s a tally that would have secured the title in several recent seasons, but in 2025, it wasn’t quite enough.
Guardiola’s Post-Match Reflection
Speaking after the final whistle, Pep Guardiola remained gracious in defeat. “We gave everything until the end,” he told reporters. “The margins were so fine this season. One or two moments can decide everything. Credit to Liverpool and Arsenal—they’ve been outstanding.”
He also praised his players for their resilience. “Ten wins in our final 12 games shows our mentality. We didn’t give up. But in football, sometimes it’s not enough.”
Guardiola hinted at areas for improvement, noting the need for “greater control in transition” and expressing disappointment over the “lack of clinical finishing in tight games.”
Key Takeaways from City’s Season
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Strong Finish, Weak Middle: City’s late-season surge highlighted their quality, but dropped points in winter proved too costly.
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Squad Depth Tested: Injuries to De Bruyne, Rodri, and Stones revealed some vulnerabilities, especially in midfield creativity.
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Haaland Still Delivers: The Norwegian striker scored 31 league goals—more than any other player—but needed more consistent service in critical games.
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Guardiola’s Longevity: This was Guardiola’s ninth season at City. While no signs of fatigue are visible tactically, questions may arise about how to freshen the squad and maintain motivation going forward.
European Focus and Summer Plans
Despite missing out on the title, City can still claim silverware. They are through to the FA Cup final against Chelsea and remain contenders in the Champions League, facing Bayern Munich in the semifinals.
Guardiola’s focus now turns to summer reinforcements. With Ilkay Gündogan still not adequately replaced, central midfield is a priority. Rumors link the club with West Ham’s Lucas Paquetá and Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz.
City are also reportedly in the market for a right-sided winger and a young left-back, with long-term succession planning in mind for Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker.
Final Thoughts
Manchester City’s 2024–25 campaign was, by most metrics, a successful one—but for a club accustomed to winning, finishing third is a bitter pill to swallow. They displayed moments of brilliance, maintained elite-level consistency, and played some of the best football in Europe. Yet, in a season where rivals stepped up, City couldn’t quite match the clinical edge of Liverpool or the late fight of Arsenal.
Still, with Pep Guardiola at the helm and a core of world-class talent, few would bet against City bouncing back next season with renewed hunger. For now, the Premier League crown may have slipped away—but the dynasty is far from over.
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