Manchester City

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Just five games in, it might seem a bit early to pay much attention to the Premier League table - but it's probably more settled than you think.

If we look at the Premier League after five games last season and where teams ultimately ended up, the final table was already starting to take shape as 13 of the 20 sides finished within four places of where they sat even at this early stage (65%).

Eventual champions Arsenal were second, Sunderland were already seventh - where they finished eight months later - and two of the three sides that were relegated were already in the bottom three.

The eventual champions have been in the top two at this point in the past four campaigns, suggesting - potential punishments aside - it will be Manchester City or Arsenal that lifts the trophy.

The top end of the table overall has sometimes settled surprisingly quickly in recent years. The top eight after five games in 2024-25 finished as the top eight at the end of that season (although not in the same order), while the top six in 2019-20 and top seven in 2016-17 were also in place at this early stage.

While being top after five games has not meant much in recent seasons, being bottom certainly has.

Tottenham could well be in trouble once again as the side bottom of the Premier League after five games has been relegated in six of the past seven seasons.

Being bottom this early did not used to be such a bad omen. Between 2013-14 and 2018-19, only one of the six sides that were propping up the table after five games ended up going down - Newcastle in 2015-16 - while Crystal Palace finished as high as 11th in 2017-18.

Looking at the relegation battle more broadly, at least one of the teams in the bottom three at this stage has been relegated in the past eight seasons - so one of Tottenham, Fulham and Coventry City are very likely to be heading to the Championship in May.

The pool of contestants for this season's relegation battle may already be decided too because the three sides that ultimately went down in the past three seasons were all in the bottom six after five games, which would add Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace to the mix.

The last sides to be outside the bottom six at this point but relegated were Leeds United and Southampton in 2022-23, who were both in the top half (seventh and ninth). With their teams currently in eighth and 11th place, Hull City and Ipswich Town fans will hope that is still the case at the end of this campaign.

While the season may well have barely begun, the Premier League table is already starting to take shape.

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Some Premier League clubs were so "astonished" by comments made by Andy Burnham - appearing to downplay the verdict against Manchester City - that they are now "concerned" about political interference in the appeal process, sources have told BBC Sport.

Senior club figures say they were shocked when they heard the prime minister tell the BBC he would be "really concerned" if Manchester City's owners decide to sell up after the club were found guilty of Premier League financial rule breaches.

They have questioned what his comments to the BBC were designed to achieve, and said it had put the Independent Football Regulator in a difficult position.

Burnham is under increasing pressure surrounding his relationship with the club's Abu Dhabi ownership during his time as mayor of Greater Manchester.

• Read more about the concerns

Such is the level of scrutiny, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has demanded that No 10 release all details of meetings between the prime minister and senior figures at the club.

Despite clarification from Downing Street that Burnham's view is that no-one is "above the rules", his comments have sparked unease among some senior Labour figures who fear his initial comments have had major cut-through with voters.

Senior club sources have said they found the comments "absolutely bizarre", and that it was "at best naive and at worst quite manipulative, and that is not a good look".

A different source said it was "clumsy", while another said they were surprised that the prime minister had "misspoken".

The entire process involving the charges against Manchester City is independent of the Premier League.

A separate independent appeal board will hear City's appeal. The club continues to deny any wrongdoing.

Can the Premier League afford to lose Man City?

BBC sports editor Dan Roan: There will be some clubs in the Premier League that are thinking that this needs to be managed in a way that they are not rendered extinct.

City need to come back. They are good for the league. The Premier League like the fact there's a rivalry with Liverpool and Manchester United, for example.

I think it's a difficult balance for the league to strike and its board are going to have some serious conversations over the coming weeks when they try to formulate what would be an appropriate tariff.

There will be other clubs that really want them to be hit hard and there has to be a deterrent so this never happens again because it is ultimately financial cheating.

Marc Higginson, author of 'Falling for Manchester City,' says the club "owes a huge amount of gratitude" to the players who played their part in getting the Sky Blues back into the Premier League.

The book, which chronicles the 1990s, shows the fall and rise of City over the course of the decade.

"The thing that strikes me now when I'm looking back is that these guys from the 90s are still as big as legends as the ones who have statues outside [the Etihad]," he told BBC Radio Manchester.

"For fans of a certain age, they will still go misty-eyed over players like Andy Morrison, Paul Dickov and Shaun Goater as much as Kevin de Bruyne and Sergio Aguero. I am the same.

"They got City back to where they needed to be. There were dark days going down to the third tier because Manchester United were winning the Treble down the road!

"But that moment when Dickov equalised against Gillingham at Wembley was as good as the Champions League when Rodri scored.

"The club owes a huge amount of gratitude to those players who dragged the club back up to the Premier League."

Image source, Getty Images

Former Manchester City midfielder Jim Whitley, who also features in the book, recalled Joe Royle's impact during that era.

City were in the third tier of English football under Royle but he immediately guided them back to the second flight with a memorable play-off win over Gillingham at Wembley.

"He was one of the first managers that I came across who knew who to shout at and who to put an arm around," said Whitley. "He changed the thinking.

"I always did as I was told and he told me to mark Kieron Dyer one game and nothing else. I did for the whole game, but I felt like I barely touched the ball and wasn't involved at all.

"But Royle came over, put his arm around me, and said 'you won us the game, you did' and I felt six feet tall.

"It's only later when you look back that you realise how clever that was. They were fantastic times."

Hit play above to hear the discussion in full

Dan Roan and Dale Johnson
Sports editor and Football issues correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Senior figures within the English game are concerned that Manchester City could play in the Champions League next season even if they are relegated for breaching financial regulations.

It centres around the possibility that City win the Champions League, which would provide qualification for the competition as titleholders - regardless of their status in the English domestic pyramid.

BBC Sport has spoken to a number of senior figures within the game in recent days who are concerned about the prospect of City qualifying for the Champions League next season.

The feeling is that if City do not win their appeal and are therefore handed a strong sanction, then being allowed to compete alongside Europe's elite, and receiving the financial rewards which come with it, would not be acceptable.

The immediate issue surrounds the Uefa licence, which every club needs in order to play in Europe.

One source said the issue of City's licence "had been raised" and that a solution "would require the sort of joined up thinking that's been a bit lacking so far".

The licences are issued by the Football Association, though the process itself is delegated to the Premier League.

The licences are based upon current information which does not take into account sanctions or breaches related to historical offences.

If a club fulfils all minimum criteria required for admission, the licence cannot be refused.

The key reasons a club may fail relate to overdue payables to other teams, players or outstanding tax liabilities.

Match-fixing convictions within the past 10 years, or a integrity conflict related to multi-club ownership, are considered but would not apply to City.

A source added that "licences are awarded on the basis of current financial performance, so the grounds to refuse one are unclear".

If the verdict is upheld by the appeal board is it likely City will face severe sanctions, which could include heavy points deductions, a large fine and transfer embargos.

The sanctioning hearing, which will determine the level of punishment City must face, is yet to be scheduled.

While a points deduction could rule City out of qualifying by league position, it might still be achieved through cup competitions.

Expelling City from the Premier League immediately is also an option which remains on the table.

Read more here

And press play below to hear BBC Sport correspondents explore what sanctions Manchester City could face for their financial rules breach

Image source, Getty Images

Former Manchester City midfielder midfielder Jim Whitley says he "feels for" the club's supporters after the guilty verdict in relation to breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations.

Whitley made 47 appearances for City in all competitions during the late 90s.

"It has been quite tough because I've had everyone shouting 'cheat' at me all of a sudden," he told BBC Radio Manchester.

"It's got nothing to do with me, and I was proud to wear the shirt when I did.

"However, it is difficult because I think about what the players are going to take at all the away games. It is going to be so difficult for them to take it.

"When something like that happens which is out of your hands, the only thing you can do is play football.

"City still have money, they are still in the running for a lot of trophies, and I think players will unite more so than anyone and stick together and be a team.

"I feel for the fans right now because they're going to take a lot of stick. They are the ones who have been on the road since they were watching me play when it wasn't so great. They are the ones who will suffer and take the most stick.

"It's hard to take and hard to see because I don't think a lot of fans expected this to happen, in the way it has in particular. The amount of words going round to describe City is quite hard to take I have to say."

Listen to the full chat by pressing play below or on BBC Sounds here

This week's More Than The Score podcast - brought to you by the BBC's World Service - takes a look at the Manchester City case from a global perspective.

Delyth Lloyd is joined by Kieran Maguire, professor of football finance at the University of Liverpool, and Simon Chadwick, professor of Afro-Eurasian sport at Emlyon Business School.

They discuss how the situation is being viewed in the Middle East, the potential impact on UK-UAE relationships, possible punishments and where this ranks amongst the biggest sporting scandals ever.

Listen to the show below or on BBC Sounds here

Liverpool and Paris St-Germain are interested in signing Rayan Cherki from Manchester City should the 23-year-old France midfielder become available. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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