Premier League - Football: Manchester City season preview

bet365 News Team Updated: Oct 05 2023 08:55 Published: Aug 04 2022 17:12

After winning the Premier League title on the final day of last season, expectations are high for Manchester City heading into the 2022/23 campaign.

With some big names coming and going at the Etihad Stadium this summer, time will tell if the club's hierarchy got the big calls right over the transfer window.

Losing the Community Shield 3-1 to Liverpool was an early setback for the Citizens but they won't care if they come out on top again come the end of the season.

What	England Premier League 2022/23
Where	England
When	5th August 2022 - 28th May 2023
How to watch	Selected matches broadcast on Sky, BT Sport and Amazon Prime
Odds	Manchester City 4/7, Liverpool 2/1, Tottenham 14/1, Chelsea 16/1, Manchester United 33/1

Where did Manchester City finish last season?

1st

What are Manchester City's hopes for the season?

Anything but landing what would be the club's seventh Premier League title in their history would be considered a failure.

For many, City are the deserved favourites in the outright betting market to retain the English crown this season.

The Citizens only just managed to get over the line last term, as they needed a remarkable second-half comeback on the final day to beat Aston Villa and crush Liverpool's hopes of a second Premier League title.

On the face of it, it looks like it could well be another two-horse race for the title this season, although the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur might say differently.

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Who are Manchester City's opening opponents?

The reigning champions face a tricky opening game of the 2022/23 campaign as they travel to West Ham United on 7th August.

City have found the London Stadium a tough place to go to in the last couple of seasons, drawing all of their last three visits to the Hammers in all competitions.

The Citizens are 1/3 to get back to winning ways at the London Stadium, with the draw at 7/2 and a West Ham win at 17/2.

When are Manchester City's key fixtures?

The games against fellow title-contenders Liverpool will obviously stand out for City, with Guardiola's side travelling to Anfield on 15th October in their first clash.

Liverpool make the short trip to the Etihad Stadium for the second encounter on 1st April.

City's final game before the start of World Cup 2022 in Qatar comes on 12th November at home to Brentford, before a return to action on Boxing Day away at Leeds United.

The Manchester Derby is also one to look out for in the calendar, with the Etihad hosting the first on 1st October, before the return clash at Old Trafford on 14th January.

Related Premier League News

Premier League - Football: Leeds United season preview

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Who is Manchester City's manager?

Guardiola continues as the City manager after signing for the club all the way back in February 2016.

The Spanish tactician took charge for the start of the 2016/17 season and has since gone on to win four Premier League titles during his time in England.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss has also done well in the domestic cups, winning the FA Cup once and four League Cups with the Citizens.

Guardiola has once again been backed in the transfer market this summer, and the 51-year-old's City will take some stopping to be denied a consecutive hat-trick of Premier League titles.

What players have Manchester City's signed?

Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund)
Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United)
Stefan Ortega (Arminia Bielefeld)
Julian Alvarez (River Plate)

Which players have left Manchester City?

Fernandinho (Released)
Gavin Bazunu (Southampton)
CJ Egan-Riley (Burnley) Free
Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Burnley) Loan
Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal)
Darko Gyabi (Leeds)
Tommy Doyle (Sheff Utd) Loan
Romeo Lavia (Southampton)
Raheem Sterling (Chelsea)
Zack Steffen (Middlesbrough) Loan
Arijanet Muric (Burnley)
Oleksandr Zinchenko (Arsenal)
Yan Couto (Girona) Loan
James McAtee (Sheffield United) Loan

Who are Manchester City's key players?

Star player	Kevin De Bruyne
Potential top scorer	Erling Haaland
Set-piece king	Kevin De Bruyne
Exciting youngster	Cole Palmer

There is of course plenty of excitement surrounding the arrival of Erling Haaland at the Etihad Stadium following his high-profile move from Borussia Dortmund.

With essentially the pick of Europe's top clubs, the 22-year-old Norwegian opted to leave Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund for his father Alfie Haaland's former club City.

While Haaland, who is 3/1 to finish as the Premier League's top goalscorer this season, will be looking to make an impact in the English top flight, it's Kevin De Bruyne who is the current star player at the Etihad Stadium.

Arguably one of the best midfielders in the world right now, the Belgium international is another player who could walk into any of Europe's top teams of his choosing.

A player with astonishing talent, and a talisman for City on and off the field, De Bruyne looks set to play another key role if City are to enjoy domestic and European success this season.

He will be important for City from set-pieces and can leave goalkeepers clutching at thin air with his powerful strike.

Haaland will also be looking to get on the end of De Bruyne's free-kicks into the box, as City hope to score more goals from set-pieces this season.

One rising star to keep an eye on at City is English forward Cole Palmer. Although first-team opportunities might be hard to come by, the 19-year-old looks to have a bright future ahead of him.

Palmer has made four appearances already for City since his debut in 2020 and could be handed more opportunities this term.

Which of Manchester City's players will be going to the World Cup?

Blessed with a host of international stars, there will be a high number of City players who look set to make the trip to Qatar for the World Cup later this year.

Summer signing from Leeds United Kalvin Phillips will be looking to be one of those to make the England squad, along with Kyle Walker, John Stones, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden.

Portuguese trio Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva are set to travel, along with Spanish duo Aymeric Laporte and Rodri.

Ilkay Gundogan and De Bruyne will look to impress for Germany and Belgium, respectively, while there is likely to be a South American contingent of Julian Alvarez for Argentina and Ederson for Brazil.