Man City 2026/27 Betting Preview

Life without Pep Guardiola begins for Man City this season - their first since he took over back in 2016. Former Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has replaced the Spaniard, who will be hoping to win the fans over as quickly as possible.

His first task is to get Man City back on top and knock Arsenal off their perch before they become established Premier League winners. But will Maresca be able to get up and running in his first season or will he crash and burn? Nathan Joyes dives deeper into Man City’s squad and provides his best betting thoughts ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

Team analysis

How an earth do Man City cope without Guardiola? It's certainly going to be an interesting season for Man City who will have a new manager in their dugout for the first time in 10 years.

Maresca won plenty over with his Chelsea side but the Italian will need to crank it up another notch in his new environment - which is one that demands not only victories but trophies at the end of the season.

But perhaps this has come at a good time for the club. Man City, at times, didn't look themselves last season - and it could be said for the year before as well at times.

The change might be a good thing - and Maresca will bring in new ideas to try and get Man City back on track. He may have to do it without Rodri, who has been subject to interest from La Liga, but this is his chance to come in and shake things up.

Man City have several key members of this squad that are ready to be unleashed, and every player has a clean slate under their new boss.

However, it’s impossible to not talk about Erling Haaland and his impact. Since signing in 2022, the Norwegian has scored 112 Premier League goals and that is why he is 4/6 to win the Golden Boot once more.

And Maresca will be praying his Norwegian forward remains fit throughout the season. Despite City's quality throughout the squad, without Haaland they fall apart, and his role is integral to their success. Perhaps that is something Maresca needs to change - easier said than done, mind you.

Key players

Man City’s main signing saw them splash serious cash in order to bring in Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson for no less than £125m. Maresca wanted a statement signing and the Italian certainly got exactly that.

The 23-year-old England international has had two successful seasons at the City Ground since leaving Newcastle and now has been rewarded with a chance to prove himself at one of the best clubs in world football.

Leicester’s Jeremy Monga joins the Geordie albeit for only a fraction of Anderson’s fee, although the highly-rated 17-year-old is likely to spend next season away from the Etihad on loan.

The same can be said for Mathys Detourbet who has signed for £20m from Troyes but has already joined Monaco on loan for the next 12 months.

And so Maresca may have one major signing through the door - and it’s a big one - but no doubt the Italian will be hoping for one or two more eye-catching signatures before the window slams shut.

It’s not just Guardiola who has packed his bags and vacated the building. John Stones, Bernardo Silva, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake have all moved on as a new-look Man City side starts to take shape under their new head coach.

Season prediction

Man City may well need time - and another couple of signings - if they are to get closer to Arsenal this time round. At 11/4, they are their closest rivals in the market. That could well grow if Rodri leaves before the window shuts.

However, the value is still with Arsenal who have a far more settled squad in this market, but there’s plenty of juice in Man City’s price for them to finish in the top two. Currently 5/4, it’s hard to see Liverpool (2/1) leapfrogging Maresca’s men when they have so much work to do themselves.

Arsenal can win the Premier League once again at 6/4, but backing Man City to finish in the top two at 5/4 could be an intelligent play with Liverpool, Man United and Chelsea having a little more to prove.

Man City will need time to get used to their new head coach, but Maresca's appointment looks to be a smart one.