What a season it’s been for the Blues. Records have fallen and the Premier League has been won in a very special way. We have seen some highs. We have seen some lows. Questions on Pep’s style of play answered and, for the most part, domination of the English game.
January is a funny month for English football as the transfer window opens. Speculation throughout the month saw the continuing pursuit of Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez. That, along with Jonny Evans, and a late bid for Leicesters Riyad Mahrez all fell flat.
Sanchez eventually would go to Manchester United where his desire to become mediocre, but rich, came true. The other two stayed with their clubs, and saw out the season but are back looking for moves now. In the end the Winter transfer business for Manchester City was quiet. A young defender in Aymeric Laporte came in, while Eliaquim Mangala left on loan to Everton.
While this drama played out, there were games going on for the League. The first three games of 2018 came in three different competitions, and all at home. A 3-1 League victory against Watford was followed by a 4-1 FA Cup victory against Burnley, although City initially went a goal down. After that came the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi final, and a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Bristol City.
All good things have to come to an end, and it did for City at Anfield against Liverpool. In the end the score line made the game seem closer than it was. Losing out 4-3, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan made the score better in the final six minutes.
That still left City fifteen points above Manchester United, although Jose Mourinho’s side did have a game in hand. It would be back to winning ways for the Blues for the rest of the month though. Two more League wins, home to Newcastle and West Brom, saw City finish the month still fifteen points ahead.
Next: Manchester City: January
In between those two League games were two cup games, and progression. The second leg of the Carabao Cup saw City progress 5-3 on aggregate against a very good Bristol City side. Away to Cardiff also saw progression, and talk of a quadruple was still on heading into February.
On 68 points, had City not won anymore points, they still would have finished in the top six.