Manchester City: Five Games to Highlight in 2016-17
By Larry Henry
With the 2016-17 Barclays Premier League kicking off in just about two months, there are five key matches for Manchester City that they should circle on their calendar before the season kicks off.
Pep Guardiola will be in charge of Manchester City heading into the 2016-17 season, and will be leaving a legacy he built at Bayern Munich. Wednesday saw the league schedule get announced for the upcoming Barclays Premier League season, and fans and players like got to see who they will be facing to start the season.
For this article, I decided to pick five games which I think are key matches for Guardiola and his team if they want to be a dominant force in the league this season. Each match will give insight why I feel it could be a key match for the Citizens if they would like to make a run at the Premier League title this season.
1.) August 13th, Opening Day vs Sunderland.
It may not have the glitz and glamour as if it was a top-tier team, however Sunderland ended the 2015-16 campaign on a roll getting out of a relegation fight and saving their place in the Premier League. Sam Allardyce will most-likely be bringing in some more players over the summer, so it could be a new-look Sunderland heading into the new season.
Overall, the opening game will have a lot of meaning to see how Guardiola’s team looks on opening day and if Manchester City can start the season on the right foot. We don’t know who will be starting at certain positions, but it will be interesting what new faces we see at the Etihad as the season kicks off.
2.) September 10th, @ Manchester United.
The first Manchester Derby for Pep Guardiola could be crucial to how this team starts the first half of the season. Manchester City had a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford in last year’s edition of this fixture, which could be a lot different with both sides adding new players to their rosters. This will be the fourth match of the season for the Citizens, and this will be their toughest test so far. A main problem for Manchester City finishing fourth last season and not higher was their problems in road fixtures, and their lack of earning points against the top six teams in the standings.
Like the cliché says, “To be the best, you have to beat the best”, and for Manchester City to be dominant in England under their new manager then this is a game they have to play well in. A loss here could see fans feel nervous for how the season will go.
3.) December 31st, @ Liverpool.
Playing on New Years Eve is always tough, and during the end of the year, Manchester City will have three matches in an eight-day span. This is the middle fixture, between a trip to playoff final winners Hull City on December 26th, and a home fixture vs promotion-champions Burnley on January 2nd. Last season, Liverpool defeated Manchester City in both league fixtures by an aggregate score of 7-1. At Anfield, Manchester City looked embarrassing in a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Reds.
This is a game that Guardiola would like to do well in with the new year right around the corner. Liverpool have been a resurgence under Jurgen Klopp, and I’m sure Manchester City would like to beat them on the road heading into 2017.
4.) February 25th, vs Manchester United.
Pending how the first Manchester Derby goes at Old Trafford, this match could have a lot more meaning. If Manchester City lose the first match vs Jose Mourinho‘s side, then fans could become unrest if they lose at the Etihad for the second season in a row. Also, hosting Manchester United is a key match for Guardiola’s side before they face Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea in back-to-back matches between March and April.
Manchester United will want to make a huge splash with Jose Mourinho taking over for Louis Van Gaal as manager and if they defeat their rivals twice in a season, it could change a lot for the remainder of the season and the standings.
5.) May 13th vs Leicester City.
Depending what happens throughout the season, this could be a title-deciding fixture at the Etihad on the second-to-last weekend of the season. Reigning Champs Leicester will have a lot of expectations to continue their dominance from last season under Claudio Ranieri. They also will have to endure the UEFA Champions League schedule as well which could cause for some problems in their league form. Who knows too if they will have the likes of Jamie Vardy or Riyad Mahrez on the squad when the season begins.
Last season, Leicester defeated Manchester City 3-1 at the Etihad in a surprising contest which solidified Leicester’s dominance against the top teams in England. If Manchester City have a chance to win the title late in the 2016-17 season, then this is a result they will need to go in their favor.
According to the Telegraph, Pep Guardiola seems to have a “fairly-comfortable” start to his Manchester City coaching career. Whether or not the results will come, that will be determined when the season kicks off in August.