I’ll call it a day there. Normal service resumes for City, their mini-crisis coming to a close (in my opinion), while Luton now trail 17th-placed Everton by four points. Thanks everyone for sending in their thoughts (and corrections). And if you’re desperate for more – Niall McVeigh’s all over Spurs against Newcastle.
Jack Grealish speaks to Sky: “A lot of people like to talk about City and go on like it’s a big crisis but in reality we’ve played against very good teams: Spurs, who have been unbelievable, Liverpool who are top of the league and we played Chelsea away and Aston Villa away, who have got one of the best records in the whole of Europe. We lost one and drew three, it’s not the end of the world.”
“Is it time to consider a manager replacement at Man City?” wrote Ludovic Lemaignen prior to the City comeback. “This is shaping to be an exciting season in the premier league (you can remind me of this message when City wraps up the league mid April, either that or the match to look forward to is Villa vs Liverpool ).”
Yeah, I’ve got that slightly nervy feeling that City will just have it all click together post-Christmas and do their thing.
Jonathan Wilson’s match report has dropped – enjoy.
“I mean, how long are the shambles that are Manchester City going to give Guardiola after today, especially when there’s clear evidence that the ‘noisy neighbours’ are on an upward trajectory with a young, dynamic manager at Old Trafford for the long haul..?” wrote Simon McMahon prior to the City comeback, tongue firmly in cheek. I do find it funny that a City crisis is one loss across 10 games.
“You sir, have a Brentford fixation,” writes Joe Pearson, correctly. I don’t know what came over me late in the second half as I repeatedly typed Brentford instead of Luton – the corrections have been made and I will spend the rest of the day in the naughty corner.
Updated
FULL-TIME! Luton Town 1-2 Manchester City
City end their winless run! They were 1-0 down at half-time, a real threat there of a shock result at Kenilworth Road thanks to a fine Adebayo header. But the big boys stepped up in the second half, with Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish completing a quickfire comeback. A tough break for Luton, who keep fighting but just can’t nab the crucial points. Everton’s win over Chelsea won’t be nice news for them either.
Updated
90+6 min: One last effort for Luton as they get a corner, but it isn’t to be for them as the full-time whistle is blown.
90+5 min: Mengi carves out some space on the right-hand side, but can’t fizz in a decent cross.
90+4 min: Dias commits a foul on the halfway line to give Luton another free-kick.
Updated
90+3 min: Akanji comes on for Foden as Luton enjoy this late surge of set-piece havoc.
Updated
90+2 min: It’s pinball in the box as Chong appeals for a penalty after Grealish gets himself in the way. It’s another corner.
90+1 min: Doughty whips in a cross which is led out for a corner…
90 min: Free-kick on the left-hand side for Luton after Dias handles a long ball. We’ve got six mins of added time.
Updated
89 min: City try and hold the ball up by the corner flag, but Luton have a goalkick. Lockyer goes off for Jordan Clark.
87 min: Barkley plays a ball into the middle that goes straight to a City shirt.
86 min: Rodri and Foden drive into the Luton box with some nice close control of the ball, but they’re eventually crowded out.
85 min: All rather scrappy at the moment, and now Brown is on the floor for Luton after a tussle with Nunes.
Updated
84 min: Chong replaces Giles for Luton.
82 min: Kovacic drives forward to try and get on the end of a dinked pass from Bernardo, and that’s the centre-mid’s last act of the game – he’s off for Matheus Nunes.
Updated
80 min: A corner for Luton … but City have it covered.
79 min: City take a short corner, before Walker whips it in… the ball eventually falls for Bernardo to have a powerful shot, but it’s blocked. Barkley then loses it in midfield, with Álvarez having a go from range that just sails over the bar.
Updated
77 min: Barkley is very much in the game, breakdancing away with the ball in the middle of the pitch. But City press forward again and Doughty commits a foul to receive a yellow.
75 min: All rather stop-start at the moment, with regular fouls in the middle third. City have a free-kick from range which Álvarez whips in, but the offside flag goes up.
73 min: Rodri gets a yellow for taking down Mengi close to the halfway line.
72 min: Two changes for Luton: Morris is on for Townsend, Sambi Lokonga is on for Nakamba.
71 min: VAR decides against taking any action against Brown. Lucky boy.
70 min: Foden is in a bit of bother as Brown gets his studs onto the City fielder. VAR is having a look …
Updated
69 min: John Stones is on for Gvardiol.
68 min: No dramas for City from the corner but Ross Barkley then sprinkles some magic into the contest, turning, jinking past City shirts and sending in a shot that goes wide.
67 min: Adebayo nearly turns away for a shot inside the City box, but Kovacic is there in the nick of time to force a corner.
GOAL! Luton Town 1-2 Manchester City (Grealish 65)
And they’re in front! Grealish tucks in from close range after Álvarez crosses in from the right, with Mengi, racing back, unable to get in the way of the ball across the goal.
Updated
GOAL! Luton Town 1-1 Manchester City (Silva 62)
Here they come. Rodri drives forward into the box before being tackled by Lockyer – the ball breaks perfectly for Bernardo, who whips it in with his left foot past Kaminski. A gorgeous finish.
Updated
59 min: The free-kick finds Áke in the box, who crosses in from the right, and it’s blocked by the sliding Brown before Dias has space for a shot that hits the crossbar! I think Kaminski got something on it. There was a penalty shout for a potential handball from Brown when blocking, but I think he’s fine.
Updated
59 min: Grealish is floored by Mengi, with City winning a free-kick from more than 30 yards out.
58 min: Nakamba picks up a yellow card for a foul in the City half.
58 min: The corner doesn’t amount to any danger as City are pushed back into their own half.
57 min: Bernardo shapes up to take it, but it’s Álvarez who ends up having the shot, attempting to curl it into the top left corner, but it’s blocked for a corner.
55 min: Finally, City win a free-kick on the edge of the box, with Foden taken down.
54 min: City are being held up on the edge of the box, Luton shirts crowding around them at every opportunity.
52 min: Doughty is up and about again as Walker sends in another cross – this time it’s a fizzing low one – and Rodri gets a foot on it, but no control as the ball runs away for a throw-in.
51 min: Gvardiol has space on the left but opts against a cross as City try and work it around the box. Walker sends in a powerful cross from the right, with Gvardiol attacking it from the other side … but it’s defended well by Doughty, who’s hurt in the process.
50 min: Walker dances around the press of Adebayo before Grealish is fouled in the centre circle.
49 min: … Doughty whips in from the left but Áke heads away for City.
49 min: Luton have their first corner of the match …
48 min: Walker chips a ball into the middle for Álvarez, who tries to thread his own through ball … but Luton keep finding a way to cut off City.
Updated
46 min: What a result this would be if Luton pull it off, eh? No changes from either side by the way.
Peep!
We’re back underway at Kenilworth Road…
“If City were peppering the Brentford goal, that would explain why they aren’t scoring against Luton :),” writes Andy Flintoff (not that one). Nonetheless, I must:
Many have pointed out that I stated City were peppering shots at the “Brentford” goal at 36 mins. Alas, I am not perfect and have made the correction. I plead forgiveness and for a stop to the same email to my mailbox every two minutes.
HALF-TIME: Luton 1-0 Manchester City
Manchester City pinged around the passes, but they couldn’t create any clear chances in that half, Luton shirts hassling them at every corner. The hosts weren’t creating many opportunities of their own though … right until the final moments, when Townsend found room for a cross, and Adebayo did the rest. City’s rough patch continues.
GOAL! Luton Town 1-0 Manchester City (Adebayo 45+2)
Townsend finds the ball out on the right, crosses deep with his left foot and Adebayo leaps high into the air at the far post to head in. Terrific ball, terrific hang-time, and City trail at half-time.
Updated
45 + 1 min: Two minutes aded on, as Rodri pings a pass into Álvarez, which is too heavy to control. Luton counter, but a cross from Brown is blocked and collected by Ederson.
45 min: A foul throw from Bernardo Silva. Not really been a great half for City, this.
43 min: All rather frustrating this for City, just unable to break apart Luton’s rather rigid shape.
40 min: Townsend has space on the right but his cross lands safely into the hands of Ederson. City launch a counter-attack but Luton regain their shape and the play ends with Kyle Walker sending the ball into orbit with a shot from the right.
38 min: Rodri misplaces a pass and Townsend intercepts, driving down the right before Doughty finds the ball in the box – his cross is blocked, though.
36 min: City are peppering hopeful shots towards the Luton goal – there’s a slight sense of desperation to it all as Kovacic blazes over.
Updated
35 min: The sun pokes out at Kenilworth Road as Rodri presses forward but can’t find the killer ball – the ball eventually breaks for Grealish, but his shot from the edge of the box is blocked by an orange top.
34 min: Andros Townsend has room for a shot from outside the box and he finds the target – but it’s a simple save for Ederson.
33 min: Silva threads a ball from the right through to Foden, who drives into the box to collect it, but Kaminski is off his line to collect and stop the prospect of a shot.
31 min: Luton work it nicely down the left-hand side, but they can’t find any control in City’s half, the ball constantly lost to the champions.
28 min: Grealish has room on the left to dribble into the box, and he plays a lovely neat ball through the legs of Mengi to find the advancing Álvarez, who tries to poke the ball in from close range with his right foot … but he gets it wrong, shooting wide.
Updated
27 min: Foden picks up the ball on the half-turn, finds just enough space on the edge of the box and pings a fierce shot low across the goal … but Kaminski gets a strong hand on it. It’s a fine save diving to his left.
25 min: All rather packed out there in the middle of the pitch, with very little space for City to work their magic.
23 min: No danger from the corner and Luton win a free-kick in their own half after Rodri fouls Brown.
22 min: A lovely chipped ball from Silva finds Gvardiol driving forward on the left, and he cuts inside to shoot with his right foot, the ball deflecting out for a corner.
20 min: City are now finding their beat, launching regular waves of attack, primarily through the left-hand side with Gvardiol heavily in the mix.
19 min: Rodri forces a fine save from Kaminski, the goalkeeper diving to his right to deny the midfielder, who whipped in from the edge of the box.
Updated
18 min: Rodri and Gvardiol work it well on the left before the full-back sends in a low cross… but there’s no white shirt on the end of it.
17 min: Luton are starting to find their rhythm with the ball, and they’re hassling well when they don’t have it. Foden is taken down in his own half by Bell.
16 min: Doughty crosses in from the left, and it’s a nice, deep ball, but Gvardiol gets a head on it to send it out for a throw.
15 min: Rodri, shirt tucked in, ready for business, is there in the middle already putting out fires. But he gives away a free-kick on Luton’s left-hand side … this could be their first proper chance of the afternoon.
13 min: All rather quiet at the moment, with Gvardiol winning a free-kick near the halfway line as he launched into a mazy dribble.
11 min: Townsend flicks on with his head, letting Adebayo chase the ball down on the right wing. It leads to a Luton throw, but the men in orange are pushed back to their own goal by City.
Updated
10 min: Grealish tries to play a quick one-two with Álvarez, who is taken down on the halfway line by Lockyer. Free-kick to City.
Updated
8 min: Mengi is helped to his feet and looks like he’ll probably be OK to keep going.
7 min: Mengi clashes with Grealish and the Luton man looks in some agony, with the docs rushing onto the pitch to have a look.
6 min: Grealish dances into the middle before the ball comes to Gvardiol on the left, with the full-back sliding in a low cross that is blocked.
4 min: Adebayo nicks the ball in midfield to earn the appreciation of Kenilworth Road, but City get it back and recycle it to their own goal.
Updated
2 min: Bernardo Silva slides in Phil Foden, who shoots from the left-hand side of the box, forcing a decent save from Kaminski. The rebound effort doesn’t cause any trouble.
1 min: City, as expected, have most of the ball, passing it around tidily.
Peep!
Off we go, with City kicking things off.
“Not a vintage year for movies, but I was very impressed by M3GAN (M3GAN on Letterboxd https://boxd.it/jxmG),” writes Gary Naylor. “It concerns a humanoid robot that causes havoc. I can’t imagine why it came to mind reading a Manchester City MBM...” Cheers for the rec, Gary.
Goals galore at the Emirates if you fancy checking in there.
“Good morning, Taha, from a cold and grey Indianapolis!” Good afternoon, Joe Pearson, from a cold and grey north London. “Although he was a Brentford fan as a youth, and eventually served on the Board, Rick Wakemen is now reportedly a big City fan. So how about a cut from ‘Six Wives’? A little ‘Catherine of Aragon’ would fit the bill.” I’ll be honest, Joe, I don’t know who that is – I’ve been forced into a quick Google – but let’s give this a play:
“So Haaland has a foot injury. But where’s Jérémy Doku?” asks Ric Arthur from Toronto. He picked up an injury against Spurs and missed out against Villa, too.
These sides haven’t met this century – but they’ve still got history. Here’s Niall McVeigh heading back to 1983.
Haaland’s got a foot injury, explains Guardiola – Álvarez will lead the line for Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola explains why Erling Haaland is out for today's match against Luton Town 👇 pic.twitter.com/vyIjKeeLJG
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 10, 2023
The teams
Luton Town: Kaminski, Lockyer, Mengi, Bell, Barkley, Nakamba, Giles, Doughty, Adebayo, Brown, Townsend
Subs: Krul, Andersen, Johnson, Berry, Chong, Mpanzu, Clark, Sambi Lokonga, Morris
Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Aké, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Rodri, Foden, Silva, Grealish, Álvarez
Subs: Ortega, Carson, Phillips, Stones, Gómez, Akanji, Nunes, Bobb, Lewis
Luton’s line-up is in …
Your Hatters to take on the champions. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/SDVO8KZFEK
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) December 10, 2023
As is City’s – where’s Erling?
Your City line-up! 📋
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 10, 2023
XI | Ederson, Walker (C), Dias, Ake, Gvardiol, Rodrigo, Kovacic, Bernardo, Foden, Grealish, Alvarez
SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Carson, Phillips, Stones, Gomez, Akanji, Nunes, Bobb, Lewis#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/cq7BSwCVKh
Preamble
Hello, hello, hello and welcome to a battle between two Premier League strugglers: the new boys Luton and, um, Manchester City. Yes, it’s been a tough time for Pep Guardiola’s treble winners, a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa in the week extending their winless run in the league to four games (four, Jeremy, that’s insane!). The good news for the defending champions is that they have Rodri back from suspension, and he simply doesn’t do losing, having missed all three of City’s league defeats this season.
Luton played their part in a thriller at home on Tuesday night, taking a 3-2 lead against Arsenal before a late Declan Rice header left them empty handed. They also had to contend with Everton leapfrogging them in the table with a win over Newcastle, so even with all of that fight, some points would be rather nice.
Anywho, I’ll be here for the whole thing, which kicks off at 2pm GMT. Send in your thoughts, queries, title predictions, song requests, Oscar predictions, whatever you fancy. Cheers!
