Manchester City will begin the season having spent at least £90m on new players, and it's only June. Pep Guardiola has had his first taste of English football and that saw him finish third in the league with no silverware to show for the first time in his career.

Manchester City dropped many unnecessary points last season, which could be blamed on the likes of a lack of quality, poor tactics or individual errors.

City have already dipped into the transfer market, spending big on Benfica shot stopper Edison to sure up the defence after the signing of Claudio Bravo had not been as successful as Guardiola would have hoped.

The investments have already made are a clear sign of intent for City, and that is to win the Premier League and Champions League.

But here are the defining games that could make or break Manchester City’s season...

Arsenal  (A)

Arsenal v Man City - Sat 24th Feb

Man City have struggled against the Gunners in the Premier League era, the away fixture in particular rarely produces three points for the Citizens; they've only won once at the Emirates and that was a League Cup tie in 2011.

The Emirates is certainly a fortress for the Gunners, at least against City who have to address their record in North London if they are to pip their rivals to the league title.

Manchester United

Man United v Man City - Sat 9th Dec

Man City v Man United - Sat 7th Apr

In recent years, the blue side of Manchester has enjoyed the Manchester derby. The importance of this fixture is enormous and the effects following the result follow a pattern for each team.

City beat United 2-1 at Old Trafford last season in a string of 10 straight wins. This fixture is huge for building confidence and by taking three important points from their local rivals it makes it even more crucial in the chase for the title.

Liverpool

Man City v Liverpool - Sat 9th Sep

Liverpool v Man City - Sat 13th Jan

The Liverpool fixtures have proved to be very difficult through recent years fir City. Liverpool haven’t lost to the Citizens since August 2013.

Liverpool don’t have a problem with beating big teams but it is the smaller clubs that they trip up on, unlike City who have a tendency to score four or five past their opponents more often than anyone.

City have new signings to help them turn these types of results into their favour which will help reach the wider goal.

Leicester City

Leicester v Man City - Sat 18th Nov

Man City v Leicester - Sat 10th Feb

Manchester City have only beaten the 2015/16 champions once in the previous four attempts (W1, D1, L2).

The Foxes struggled to defend their title as expected but still managed to muster up their performance of the season as Jamie Vardy scored a hat-trick to send Pep’s men packing.

City will be alert to the threat Leicester pose next season and for their sake, they had better deal with it better than they have recently or face another moment of embarrassment.

Chelsea

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Sat 30th Sep - Chelsea v Man City

Sat 3rd Mar - Man City v Chelsea

Another of the top four clashes that City struggle to get the better of, both sides are able to beat each other but none have been able to dominate the fixture as of yet, mainly away from home.

Chelsea did the double over their title rivals last season and that played a huge part in Chelsea winning the title.

Pep Guardiola will be focused on turning this around as he aims to emulate his opposite number Antonio Conte.