Manchester City: December 2024 Preview

After a strong start to the 2024/2025 season from August to October 2024, Manchester City had a month to forget in November 2024. On paper, the Sky Blues should have won all five of their matches in November. A series of injuries and fatigue, however, saw the side struggle. Manchester City lost all three of their English Premier League matches. Meanwhile, they earned one point out of a possible six from their two Champions League matches. The results mean that Manchester City remain in second place in the EPL table, and they remain mid-table in the UEFA Champions League standings. In addition, they were eliminated from the 2024/2025 EFL Cup in the Round of 16.

Manchester City will hope that they can get out of this rut quickly as they will have eight matches across two competitions in December 2024. With their current injuries and struggles, and with several senior players still sidelined for several more weeks, it appears that this month may define how City’s season.

The current champions of England will start the month with a visit to current league leaders Liverpool on Sunday, 1 December. Historically, Manchester City have struggled when visiting Liverpool. City’s last victory at Anfield came in February 2021 at a time when fans were still not allowed to enter stadiums due to the coronavirus pandemic. Liverpool also had several injuries, and City dismantled and bettered a weakened Liverpool side. Since then, City have managed to earn a few draws, meaning their record has improved, but they have struggled to win at the venue. Given Liverpool’s current form and City’s various issues, this could be a long and difficult night for the current champions.

Following this match, Manchester City will return home where they will host Nottingham Forrest on Wednesday, 4 December. In recent seasons, the Sky Blues have had to grind out difficult results against Forrest. It is expected that this match will be another tight affair, but given Forrest’s improvements this season, it will be yet another challenge for City.

A few days later, Manchester City will travel to Crystal Palace. The match will be played on Saturday, 7 December. Like Forrest, the Eagles have also posed issues for the Sky Blues in the past. Having witnessed City’s recent results against Bournemouth and Brighton and Hove Albion, Palace will believe that they can take the fight to City as well.

After these three EPL matches, Manchester City will shift their focus to the UEFA Champions League in what will be a crucial match. They will travel to Turin ,Italy, to play Juventus on Wednesday, 11 December. The Sky Blues currently find themselves in a position to advance to the competition’s new knockout stage format, but if City continue to drop points, they may find themselves in a difficult position. The White and Blacks find themselves in a similar situation, and it is expected that both sides will push for a result in this fixture. The match against Juventus will then conclude City’s participation in the UEFA Champions League until next month.

Following this match, Manchester City will return to the EPL for their final four fixtures in 2024. They will first host Manchester United in the derby on Sunday, 15 December. Like City, United are also struggling to find form. It remains to be seen who will end up on top after this classic matchup, one that City has dominated in recent seasons.

After the derby, City will travel to Aston Villa. The match will be held on Saturday, 21 December. The Villans have caused the Sky Blues problems in recent seasons. In their last two matchups at Villa Park, the hosts earned a draw in 2022 and they defeated the visitors in 2023. By this point, City will be hopeful that some of their star players have returned from injury, and they will hope to earn an important result.

Following the fixture against Villa, Manchester City will return to the Etihad for their final home match in 2024. City will host Everton on Thursday, 26 December. Like Palace, Everton are also struggling this season. The Toffees will hope to turn their luck around in this fixture, while the Sky Blues hope to continue putting pressure at the top of the EPL table.

Finally, Manchester City will end the 2024 calendar year with a visit to Leicester City. The match will be held on Saturday, 29 December. Having returned to the EPL this season, the Foxes have struggled. They are currently at the bottom of the 2024/2025 table, and they will hope to climb out of the relegation zone before the end of the calendar year.

In short, December 2024 will be a very difficult month for Manchester City. The Sky Blues have eight matches in thirty-one days, equating to a match every four days. Several of City’s current starters are out injured, and this has put additional pressure, both physically and mentally, on the healthy and fit members of the squad. With the calibre of the opponents they will face this month, Manchester City will hope that several of their players will return from injury, as this will alleviate pressure on the current members and it will strengthen the squad. Otherwise, if City’s injury crisis continues, this could be another month that will result in several issues.

How will Manchester City finish the 2024 calendar year? Time will tell.