Could January be make or break for Manchester City?

Could January be make or break for City?

By James Fudge | Jan 3, 2023

Manchester City's Norwegian striker Erling Haaland (2R) celebrates scoring his team's third goal with teammates during the English Premier League football match between Leeds United and Manchester City at Elland Road in Leeds, northern England on December 28, 2022. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images) /

Manchester City is slowly creeping back into our lives and we now have a month of action to look forward to in January. And, some big games too.

Following the draw against Everton, Pep Guardiola’s men find themselves seven points off the leaders but still on all fronts challenging for four trophies, three of which come in this month.

Is it too early to say that word beginning with a Q?

The Carabao Cup and FA Cup feature this month with an away tie down south at Southampton and a home game against Chelsea in the respective competitions.

City will continue their Premier League quest to retain their trophy as they face a tough away trip to Chelsea next, before facing the rearranged Tottenham fixture, Manchester United and Wolves to round off the month. That is not forgetting a potential fourth-round tie providing they get the win on 8 January.

Chelsea (a) 5 January
Chelsea (h) 8 Jan
Southampton (a) 11 Jan
Manchester United (a) 14 Jan
Tottenham Hotspur (h) 19 Jan
Wolves (a) 22 Jan
FA Cup Fourth Round? 28 Jan

So, who is going to be the most difficult fixture?

The disappointing draw at home to relegation-threatened, Everton, on New Year’s Eve will heap the pressure to bounce back immediately and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge will provide that opportunity. A difficult fixture, however Chelsea is not firing on all fronts and you are never quite sure what side turns up.

Already victorious over Graham Potter’s team in the EFL Cup third round, Pep Guardiola will certainly scratch his head if he is unable to come away from Stamford Bridge with three points.

Manchester United at Old Trafford will prove the most tricky tie though, especially considering that our rivals have won five consecutive games and look solid in defence. That is especially, now they have “the best CDM in the world” in their ranks.

There will be an emphasis on the cup games especially if they can keep in touch with Arsenal at the top.

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Let’s hope once February comes around on the calendar we are still in all competitions and can mention the word that haunted Liverpool last season.