6 Games That Cost Manchester City the 2014/15 Premier League Title

Manchester City’s five-match winning run may have steered them safely into second place and secured automatic Champions League qualification for next season, but it’s fair to say it’s been a disappointing campaign.

Having won a league-and-cup double and scored 158 goals in all competitions during Manuel Pellegrini’s first season in charge, expectations were high back in August about what City could achieve in the Chilean’s follow-up year.

Regression in the Champions League, two woeful domestic cup exits and a limp title defence all add up to failure, and a summer of transfer activity is needed to inject some pace and urgency into the City squad.

But where was the title lost? Here’s a look back at six disappointing results that cost City the defence of their Premier League trophy.

Manchester City 0-1 Stoke City

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The third game in and a sign of things to come. City’s recent successes had been built on their ability to win with consistency at home. This was not what anybody expected.

A 1-0 win for Mark Hughes’ side was sealed by Mame Biram Diouf’s breakaway goal. It was comical defending and City paid a heavy price.

It felt, at the time, like a blip, but it was actually a sign of things to come. The defining feature of City’s league campaign has been their results against sides they are expected to beat, with this a precursor to even more disappointing results. 

Queens Park Rangers 2-2 Manchester City

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City's 2-2 draw away at QPR back in November left them in third place, eight points adrift of leaders Chelsea. 

Sergio Aguero did his best, scoring both City goals and taking his tally to 12 goals in the opening 11 league matches of the season, but his team-mates were woefully out of form. 

The result left QPR in the bottom three, which is exactly where they have stayed. This was two huge points dropped. 

Manchester City 0-2 Arsenal

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Outplayed and outthought, City's 2-0 home defeat to Arsenal was crushing. They were second best throughout in what was one of their most insipid home performances in recent memory. 

Santi Cazorla was the best player on the pitch by some considerable distance, and it was his penalty that gave the Gunners the lead, before Olivier Giroud headed in a second to seal the three points. 

It left City five points behind Chelsea and in the midst of a poor run of form. 

Manchester City 1-1 Hull City

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Hull City, whose relegation from the Premier League could be confirmed on Sunday if they fail to beat Manchester United, took a point from the Etihad with a 1-1 draw, a result that allowed Chelsea to stretch their lead at the top to seven points. 

Only a last-gasp James Milner free-kick spared City a defeat. It was another poor, disjointed display that left the home fans frustrated once more. 

Liverpool 2-1 Manchester City

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Philippe Coutinho scored the winner as Liverpool secured a 2-1 win at Anfield in March, compounding City's Champions League misery after they had lost at home to Barcelona in the last 16 first leg just days earlier. 

It was far from City's worst performance of the season, but, once again, they were second best in a match that really mattered. 

Chelsea were left five points clear with a game in hand and one hand on the trophy. 

Burnley 1-0 Manchester City

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The final nail in the coffin came with defeat at Turf Moor. City were appalling from start to finish, with Pellegrini seemingly incapable of changing his side's fortunes. 

George Boyd's winner left City five points behind Chelsea having played two games more. There was no way back. 

Clearly, City's results against the league's lesser lights have cost them. They have dropped nine points in games against the current bottom three, results that have undoubtedly cost City the title.