A Cup tie in London was where it started to go wrong for Manchester City this season. A Cup tie in London could cap a comeback of sorts. They started their campaign with greater objectives than competing with Crystal Palace for a trophy. Yet when it spiralled out of control, the prospect of Champions League qualification and silverware would have amounted to a successful salvage job.
The turning point most pinpoint came when Rodri suffered a cruciate ligament injury against Arsenal in September. Yet City were still unbeaten when they ventured to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup on the penultimate day of October, on a run of five straight wins, none of their 14 matches in the campaign ending in defeat.
