Manchester City’s four-game winless streak has gotten a lot of attention, but context is crucial.

Chelsea had drawn at home with Liverpool and Arsenal before the dramatic 4-4 tie, and Mauricio Pochettino is still unbeaten at Stamford Bridge against the top six. City should not have rested against Liverpool, and the 3-all draw with in-form Tottenham was avoidable.

Aston Villa, now third in the Premier League, are unstoppable at Villa Park under Unai Emery, and a midweek battle under the lights was always going to be a difficult test, even without the suspended Rodri and injured Jeremy Doku.

Aside from the most recent game, City may have dominated all others and had only themselves to blame for failing to win. They have not been dominated, and even Jurgen Klopp has stated that writing City out of the title fight would be the “biggest joke” ever.

The Blues have a holiday Premier League match sequence that could easily see them close the six-point deficit to Arsenal, whose last-gasp winners look more relief-inducing than heart-beating.

City does not play another top-seven club until the end of December. In their next six league games, they only have one opponent, Newcastle. Of course, three points from four games is not ideal, and Pep Guardiola bears the blame.

However, now that the match against the outstanding Villa has passed, City have a nice run ahead of them and an advantage over their opponents by not facing any of the European chasing clubs. To complete a historic 2023 season, City will play Luton Town away, Crystal Palace at home, Everton away, and Sheffield United at home.

Meanwhile, Arsenal will face Liverpool, who will face Manchester United, who will face Aston Villa. Tottenham will face Brighton and Newcastle, who will also face Liverpool. As a result, clubs might steal points from one another to boost City’s case.

Guardiola, on the other hand, must deal with a new problem that he did not experience at Manchester. Whether the Club World Cup is an honor or a hindrance, City will depart for Saudi Arabia in 10 days.

They are scheduled to play their semi-final on December 19, three days after their game against Crystal Palace, leaving little time for recovery owing to long traveling. The fact that they would have played Palace three days after facing Red Star Belgrade in the final Champions League group stage encounter adds to the pressure.

If City advances, the Club World Cup final will be held on December 22. Fortunately, there is a five-day gap between that date and the away trip to Everton, but even with Christmas Day included, this is still not a lot of training time.

Three days after the visit to Goodison Park, the club hosts Sheffield United before a week off before the FA Cup Third Round on January 6.

In total, City might play nine games in December, more than any other Premier League team.

With Guardiola’s tiny roster, every absence counts, as demonstrated against Villa. The objective will be to reduce any unavailability during a busy month that will put this well-traveled post-Treble City group to the test.

With City already competing in the Community Shield and UEFA Super Cup this season, success at the highest level necessarily spawns more games. The problem for the city this winter is to avoid becoming a victim of their own success.

However, there is no need for concern. City have a chance to reclaim their league dominance this month, and they may begin the new year with yet another trophy.