Manchester City enter the 2026-27 Premier League season facing a genuine changing of the guard, with Pep Guardiola having departed and new manager Enzo Maresca tasked with maintaining the club's status as a domestic and European superpower. Compounding the challenge, midfield lynchpin Rodri has left for Barcelona, alongside defenders John Stones and Nathan Aké and forward Bernardo Silva, stripping out significant experience just as Maresca embarks on his first season in charge.

City have moved to strengthen the squad, signing Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m to help fill the void left by Rodri, while Erling Haaland remains the focal point and favourite to win a fourth Golden Boot in five seasons. Phil Foden's form and fit alongside Rayan Cherki will be closely watched, and the club still faces 130 unresolved Premier League charges more than three years after they were announced, which they continue to deny. Off the pitch, the new Pep Guardiola Stand has lifted the Etihad's capacity to 61,000, and City have frozen ticket prices for a third straight season, with our writers tipping them for second place.