Etihad Stadium
Etihad Stadium (shana espinoza, Shutterstock)

Resurgent Man City’s Super September

Manchester City opened the 2025/26 Premier League season with a 4-0 win away from home against Wolves. Erling Haaland got a brace, while new signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki also scored, the former looking particularly impressive. Following the comprehensive victory, many wondered if City might have returned to their best this term, and would be in a position to mount a real challenge to Liverpool and Arsenal at the top of the table.

However, consecutive defeats to Spurs and Brighton quickly put a dampener on the title aspirations of the City faithful. The rebuild job was far from complete just yet, with Pep’s tactical changes and stylistic tweaks still seemingly having a way to go.

The first international break followed the 2-1 away loss to Brighton but since then City have been almost perfect. They had a magnificent September that has seen them move up to seventh in the PL, advance in the EFL Cup and also get off to a winning start in the Champions League. The only game they didn’t win was an away draw against Arsenal. That may have been the perfect result as far as Liverpool were concerned, but it was certainly not a bad one for City either, even if they had seemed on course for all three points for over 80 minutes.

Man City 3-0 Man United, Premier League, 14th September


City bounced back with a big home win in the Manchester derby. Now that (almost) everyone beats the Red Devils, such a win might not mean quite as much as it did to City fans. Even so, a 3-0 win at home against your local rivals is always a joyous occasion, and the scoreline was a fair reflection of the match.

It was an open game and the visitors had chances, but Phil Foden’s goal after 18 minutes and then a brace from Haaland proved more than enough to get the better of a very poor Man United side. The first half was cagey but the second 45 sprung into life. United had 70% of the ball in that second period but it was the hosts who looked more dangerous and they could have scored more than the two they managed.

Man City 2-0 Napoli, Champions League, 18th September


Another home game was next as the league phase of the Champions League got underway. City began at home against Napoli and another clean sheet, another win and yet another goal for Haaland were just what the doctor ordered. It was 0-0 until the Norwegian scored after 56 minutes, Jeremy Doku adding the second nine minutes later. Napoli had just a single shot in the whole game as City totally bossed things in a more traditional Pep fashion.

Arsenal 1-1 Man City, Premier League, 21st September


Those two wins set City up nicely for one of their toughest games of the season, a trip to the Emirates. City had lost three and drawn two of their last five against Arteta’s men, their last trip to the Emirates ending in a humbling 5-1 defeat. As such, they may well have taken a draw, even if it was the outcome Liverpool would have been hoping for.

After just nine minutes, Haaland started and finished an excellent breakaway goal. He controlled the ball well in a tight space, fed Reijnders and then charged forward in that typical, hulking way that he does. The Dutch midfielder timed his pass perfectly, and Haaland finished neatly.

From then on, we saw a largely tight, cagey battle, in which City were happy to cede the ball to the hosts. Arsenal struggled to break their visitors down, and Haaland had a good chance late on to seal the win. David Raya saved but even so, it looked like the Gunners were heading for a defeat until right at the death, Gabriel Martinelli, on as a sub, produced a brilliant finish after a nice ball from Eberechi Eze.

Huddersfield 0-2 Man City, EFL Cup, 24th September


Unsurprisingly, Pep rang the changes for this EFL Cup clash, with a number of youngsters getting game time. Even Kalvin Phillips got onto the pitch, albeit for just seven minutes, while both of Emile Heskey’s sons also came off the bench in the second half for City.

The Premier League outfit were far too good for the Terriers, even with a much-changed XI. Foden scored after just 18 minutes and then earned an assist when Savinho put the game to bed after 74. A routine win.

Man City 5-1 Burnley, Premier League, 27th September


City closed out the month with their biggest win of the season so far, putting five past Burnley. Clarets boss Scot Parker tried to put a positive spin on things and said that for a large part of the game his side were in with a chance. The stats back that up to a degree, with the game locked at 1-1 until the 61st minute.

Additionally, the xG was “only” 2.03 to 0.41 in City’s favour, so it is easy to argue that 5-1 was a little harsh. But football is, of course, played over 90 minutes plus stoppage time and the final score is all that really counts. Goals from Haaland in the 90th and 93rd minute kept his incredible scoring streak going and put a gloss on the final score but there is no question about which team deserved to win. City will be hoping that September’s results will not be the exception and if they can maintain anything like this form, the title race should get very interesting indeed.

Football