City are STILL Contenders but….

Before the season began, Arsenal strengthened significantly, finally getting the striker they wanted and addressing key gaps across the pitch. Liverpool, meanwhile, broke the Premier League transfer record twice and spent nearly £420 million in a statement summer that reshaped their squad completely. Everyone expected those two to set the pace, but as the dust has settled, Manchester City are quietly sitting second, once again forcing their way into the title picture. The question is no longer whether City can keep up, it’s whether this resurgence can evolve into a full-blown title challenge.

Erling Haaland has been the difference between City and the rest of the league’s chasing pack. His Ballon d’Or form is carrying the team’s entire attacking output almost single-handedly. He has scored 11 goals in 8 matches in the Premier League and 23 in all competitions for club and country across 13 games, underscoring his consistency and lethal finishing. While his efficiency in front of goal keeps City competitive, it also highlights a problem, a heavy dependence on him. After Haaland, the next-highest scorer in City’s league campaign is Burnley defender Maxime Estève, whose two own goals underline the lack of support around the Norwegian. It raises an unavoidable question: what happens if Haaland’s form dips or he picks up an injury? For now, his output is sustaining their challenge, but for City to truly threaten Arsenal and Liverpool, someone else must start finding the net. Doku has looked electric in attack, showing pace and trickery, and his end product is improving but it still needs to develop at a faster rate so Haaland gets the goalscoring help he will eventually need.

Phil Foden has begun showing signs of returning to his best form. He looks sharper, more confident, and is assuming greater creative responsibility in De Bruyne’s absence. His decision-making has improved, and he is linking up play more effectively, giving City glimpses of the attacking fluidity they rely on. Yet, City still need more goals and assists from him; his consistency will be crucial in determining how sustainable their title challenge is. Foden’s development this season could be the difference between a steady chase and a genuine push for the top.

Still in the midfield, Rodri’s recent spell out of the side has exposed just how much City depend on his composure and control in midfield. Without him, the team loses rhythm, defensive stability, and the ability to dictate the pace of matches. Guardiola has leaned on Tijjani Reijnders and Nico González to fill the gap and while they are not Rodri, they have performed reasonably well so far, showing glimpses of control and creativity. However, it remains to be seen how they handle the pressure in the biggest games, where experience and composure are often decisive. The team’s ability to navigate these fixtures in Rodri’s absence will be a key factor in sustaining their title challenge.

The signing of Gianluigi Donnarumma adds authority at the back, giving City more security under pressure. His outstanding shot-stopping ability has already been on display multiple times, pulling off crucial saves that keep City in games. His presence should, in theory, reduce vulnerability from set-pieces and aerial balls. However, City are still adjusting to his distribution style, which affects how they build from the back. While he brings confidence and leadership, the defensive unit as a whole still has work to do to reach the consistency needed for a sustained title challenge.

Guardiola is also testing a more vertical approach to compensate for the midfield imbalance caused by Rodri’s absence. City’s shape is less rigid, allowing for quicker transitions and direct attacks, but this also sacrifices some of their usual control and ball retention. Pep has also shown he is willing to let City defend deeply, even park the bus, when protecting leads as demonstrated against Arsenal when they were 1-0 up. Although they eventually conceded the equalizer, the willingness to adopt a more defensive posture shows Guardiola’s tactical flexibility. The team is adapting well at times, but sustaining this style over the course of a long season, especially in high-pressure matches, will be a key challenge for both tactics and personnel.

Arsenal remain the more consistent side, with their squad depth and targeted summer signings giving them a solid foundation. And after yet another loss for Liverpool, it’s clear that their development this season has been uneven, reflecting both the scale of their squad overhaul and the time needed for integration. City’s current position keeps them well in the mix, provided they maintain stability through the winter months and navigate fixtures with minimal disruption from injuries or dips in form. The league is shaping into a three-way fight, where fine margins could decide the outcome.

City’s title hopes rest on fine margins: Haaland’s health, Rodri’s return, Foden’s growth, and Donnarumma’s adaptation. Their ability to maintain form, balance attacking thrust with defensive prudence, and capitalize on tactical flexibility will define whether they can truly challenge Arsenal and Liverpool. They’re not the obvious favourites, but their experience, structure, and adaptability make them close enough to keep everyone else on edge as the season unfolds.