City Watch: Blues see off Salford

Following an unbelievable result at Anfield, the club’s first win against Liverpool away from home with fans for 23 years, City were straight back into Premier League and FA Cup action.

The Blues faced Fulham at home on Wednesday night, and for anyone who remembers December’s game against the Cottagers, there was slight cause for concern, given how crucial every game is going to be at this end of the season.

When the players travelled to Craven Cottage at the end of 2025, they managed to pull ahead to a 5-1 lead, but that’s when the simplicity of the game stopped. 

Marco Silva’s players managed to pull three back, making it 5-4 and a very nervy last few minutes.

Thankfully, Wednesday night was much more simple, with a routine City showing their heads once again. 

We had a 15 minute period in the first half where we managed to score three goals from Antoine Semenyo, Nico O’Reilly and Erling Haaland to take the game away from Fulham before the break.

There were no outrageous comebacks in this game as the Blues saw the game out in a very passive second period. 

It very much felt like the City of old under Pep, where we score two or three goals and just go into control mode, neutralising the game. 

Those moments aren’t great for the fans, as of course we want to see the players smash five or six past teams, but in terms of fitness and longevity, it’s absolutely vital. 

To make our week even better, Arsenal drew away to Brentford the day after, leaving the gap at just four points.

Those results are huge in the context of the league, the Gunners needed to react to us winning away at Anfield and at home to Fulham, but they couldn’t do so. 

The more weekends we have like that where Arsenal simply aren’t able to capitalise, City will become more and more confident.

We had a break from Premier League action on Saturday, with the FA Cup returning. 

The Blues faced Salford City at the Etihad, a repeat of last season’s tie against the ex-United players club. 

There wasn’t a repeat of last years 8-0 thrashing, and the game was far from comfortable, which is what most may have been expecting.

Despite this, an own goal from Salford’s Alfie Dorrington and Marc Guehi’s first in a City shirt meant Pep and his players advanced to the fifth round of the Cup where we will play Newcastle at St James’ Park, the fifth time the Blues will face the Geordies this season.

Arsenal also beat Wigan, which means this will be the first time in history two teams will still be in the running for the infamous quadruple entering March. 

I’ve always said that this achievement is impossible, City and United have won trebles and others have come within a few wins of winning all four, but I honestly think it cannot be done.

Am I to be proven wrong this season? 

The League Cup final will be the first indicator as to whether one of the teams can do it, but this feels like the only thing Pep hasn’t done for City. 

I feel as though we’re coming to the end of Guardiola’s tenure at the club, and wouldn’t it be great to finish on an achievement that’s never been done before?

Anyway, a lot has got to happen between now and then, I still think it’s impossible, but records are made to be broken.