Manchester City have yet to beat a top 5 opponent this season

Manchester City can't afford any more slip-ups if they want to retain the Premier League title. The Sky Blues no longer depend on themselves after the draws against Liverpool and Arsenal and, considering that there are no more matches between these teams, they are at the mercy of what the Reds and Gunners can do between now and the end of the season.

Pep Guardiola's side face Aston Villa on Wednesday, who are performing above expectations in the domestic championship and are not too far behind the Cityznes in the table. It will be a kind of revenge for the Sky Blues, who suffered one of their only three Premier League defeats so far at Villa Park.

At this stage of the season, Manchester City have still not managed to beat any of the top 5 teams in the league. A surprising fact, which partly justifies the Etihad's 3rd position before the 31st matchday.

The Sky Blues drew their duels with the current leaders of the Premier League. At home, Pep Guardiola's side held Klopp's Liverpool to a 1-1 draw on 25th November 2023 and the same scoreline also played out at Anfield on 10th March, on that occasion with Mac Allister and Stones the goalscorers.

 

December 4, 2023

Against second-placed Arsenal, the Mancunian side lost 1-0 (Martinelli) at the Emirates on 8th October 2023. Most recently, on 31st March, the Gunners held on for a goalless draw at the Emirates to thwart Pep Guardiola's side's assault on top spot.

Aston Villa, Wednesday's opponents, are in fourth place in the table and were able to beat Manchester City in the clash at Villa Park on 6th December 2023. Unai Emery's side won 1-0 in another close encounter that was decided in the end, on that occasion by a Leon Bailey goal.

Finally, fifth-placed Tottenham also avoided defeat against Manchester City in the only game in which they have met in the current league competition. 3-3 was the score on 3rd December at the Etihad after Son's own goal, Foden and Grealish scored for the Citizens and Son, Lo Celso and Kulusevski for Spurs.

Bearing in mind that Guardiola's side have played six games against the top five and have only failed to win 10 this season, it can be said that the games against the teams above them are costing them in the Premier League. The balance in the remaining 23 matches is 19 wins, 3 draws and a single defeat.