Everything changed when Kevin De Bruyne packed his bags for Napoli. It wasn’t just a transfer; it felt like the end of an era, a glitch in the blue matrix that Pep Guardiola has spent nearly a decade perfecting. For years, Manchester City football results were almost a foregone conclusion. You’d check the scores and see a 3–0 or a 4–0, usually with a De Bruyne masterclass at the center of it.
But look at the table right now. It’s January 2026, and the scenery has shifted.
City currently sits in second place with 43 points after 21 games. Arsenal is leading the pack, and there’s this nagging feeling among the Etihad faithful that the "invincibility" has hit a speed bump. This season is less about a steamroller and more about a high-stakes rebuild happening in real-time. With Kyle Walker now at Burnley and Ederson guarding the sticks for Fenerbahçe, the spine of the team is young, hungry, and occasionally—dare I say—vulnerable.
Breaking Down the Recent Manchester City Football Results
The last few weeks have been a proper rollercoaster. Honestly, if you’re a City fan, your heart rate has probably been through the roof. The team just came off a stretch of three consecutive draws in the Premier League.
- January 1, 2026: A frustrating 0–0 stalemate at Sunderland.
- January 4, 2026: A 1–1 draw against Chelsea at home.
- January 7, 2026: Another 1–1 result, this time against Brighton.
Three games. Two points. That’s not the City we’re used to seeing in the winter "charge."
However, they seem to have found their scoring boots in the cups. Just a week ago, on January 10, City absolutely dismantled Exeter City 10–1 in the FA Cup. Yeah, you read that right. Ten goals. It was a massacre. Then, they followed it up with a professional 2–0 win over Newcastle in the EFL Cup semi-final first leg. Antoine Semenyo, the new arrival from Bournemouth, has been a revelation, finding the net alongside Rayan Cherki.
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The most recent drama? The Manchester Derby at Old Trafford. Today is January 17, and as we speak, the city is split. United, under Michael Carrick, has been dangerous on the counter. The first half just wrapped up at 0–0, with Harry Maguire somehow hitting the bar from three yards out. Typical derby madness.
The Haaland Factor and the New Guard
Erling Haaland is still Erling Haaland.
The man is a cyborg. He’s already bagged 20 league goals this season and 26 across all competitions. He recently smashed the record for the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals—doing it in just 111 games. It’s absurd. Basically, if he stays fit, City is always one cross away from a win.
But the supporting cast is what makes the recent Manchester City football results so interesting. Tijjani Reijnders has stepped into that midfield void with a lot of grace. He’s not De Bruyne, but his energy is infectious. And then there's Nico O'Reilly and Savinho, players who are starting to demand starting spots.
The Champions League Struggle
Europe hasn’t been a walk in the park either. City finished 4th in the new league phase of the Champions League. While they had a massive 2–1 win at the Bernabéu against Real Madrid back in December, they also dropped a shocker at home, losing 0–2 to Bayer Leverkusen.
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Guardiola rotated the squad heavily for that Leverkusen game—ten changes! It backfired. It’s one of the few times we’ve seen Pep’s "overthinking" actually result in a flat performance where they just couldn't find a rhythm.
What Most People Get Wrong About City's Form
There is a narrative going around that City is "declining." People look at the four losses they’ve already suffered this season—including a 0–2 at home to Spurs in August and a 1–0 defeat at Villa Park—and assume the dynasty is over.
That’s a bit dramatic.
The reality is more nuanced. City is transitioning. They’ve integrated James Trafford in goal and brought in Guehi and Semenyo to freshen up the legs. They are still scoring 2.14 goals per game on average. Their xG (expected goals) is sitting at 39.6, while they’ve actually scored 45. They are overperforming their creation, mostly because Haaland doesn't need "chances"—he just needs the ball.
The defense has been the bigger question mark. Conceding 0.90 goals per game doesn't sound bad, but they’ve kept a clean sheet in only 43% of their matches. Without Ederson’s distribution and Walker’s recovery pace, the high line is a lot riskier. We saw it against Fulham in December; City won 5–4. A win is a win, sure, but a five-goal thriller usually means the manager is having a minor heart attack on the sidelines.
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Watching the Calendar
If you’re tracking Manchester City football results to see if they can catch Arsenal, the next month is the entire season in a nutshell.
- January 20: Away to Bodø/Glimt (Champions League). A cold Tuesday night in Norway.
- January 24: Home to Wolves.
- January 28: Home to Galatasaray.
- February 1: Away to Spurs. This is the big one. Spurs have been City's kryptonite lately.
If they can take 9 points from the next three league games, the pressure on Arsenal becomes immense. But if the draws continue, we might be looking at a race for second and third with Aston Villa, who are currently tied with City on 43 points.
How to Use These Results for the Rest of the Season
When looking at Manchester City football results, don't just look at the scoreline. Look at who is starting in that hybrid "Stones role." Lately, it’s been Rico Lewis or even young Alleyne getting minutes. The lack of stability in the back four is why the results have been so volatile.
For those following the title race, keep an eye on the "minutes played" for Rodri. When he looks "short of a gallop," as he did in the first half of the derby today, City struggles to kill transitions.
Next Steps for Fans and Analysts:
Check the injury report for the upcoming Bodø/Glimt trip. If Pep decides to rotate again like he did against Leverkusen, another European upset could be on the cards. Also, track the integration of Antoine Semenyo; his ability to play wide or as a second striker is changing how City attacks when teams park the bus. Finally, watch the gap between City and Arsenal; anything more than six points by mid-February might be too much even for a Haaland-led comeback.