'Not our best, but closer' - how high can Man City finish?

During Manchester City's dreadful run of form and results towards the end of 2024, Pep Guardiola would often look agitated and stressed.

But after watching his side comprehensively thrash a struggling Ipswich 6-0 on Sunday he looked far more relaxed. It was a display that provided a reminder of just why City have been the dominant side in English football in recent years.

"We are back to doing things that define this team for the last 10 years," Guardiola told Sky Sports afterwards.

"I'm really pleased for the players, they deserve it. They suffer a lot in this time, but we recovered some identities we lost in this path."

Just one league win in nine games during November and December was hugely damaging to City's hopes of a fifth successive title as they are now 12 points behind leaders Liverpool, who also have a game in hand.

Top four is far more realistic and the goal rush at Ipswich helped them overtake Newcastle in fourth and six points shy of second-placed Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.

Guardiola, though, was just happy to see signs of his old team as they took total control against Town.

"[It was] much better," he added. "Maybe not our best, but closer.

"The players realised where we were, our standards lacked because it's not just winning titles, it is the joy to do your best.

"It doesn't matter if you're a big actor in London or a little theatre in Sheffield - it doesn't matter.

"I think the players proved many things and hopefully it can be the beginning of recognising ourselves of who we were."

This was the biggest Premier League win this season, with City opening up Ipswich time and again with crisp passing and movement that was pivotal to their past successes, but sorely missing during their bad spell.

When dominant, City would score for fun and that free-scoring form also appears to have returned with 14 goals in their last four games. This result was also their joint-biggest away win in Premier League history, matching the 6-0 defeat of Watford in the 2017.

The top four will definitely qualify for the Champions League next season but that could increase to five depending on English clubs' success in this year's competition.

It would take an incredible run of form from City, though, and a real dip in results from leaders Liverpool for them to win a fifth consecutive title.

But until it is mathematically impossible, you can never truly rule them out. In 2018-19 they trailed Liverpool by 10 points by the New Year, but then won 18 of their next 19 games to win the title by a point.

The biggest points deficit that a team has overcome is 13 - achieved by Arsenal in 1997-98.

Manchester United overcame 12-point deficits in 1992-93 and 1995-96 - the latter was after 23 games and they went on to finish four points clear of Newcastle.

"The initial goal is to try to get up to that second spot," former Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer said on BBC Radio 5 live. "That's certainly within touching distance.

"I don't think you can rule Manchester City out, certainly to finish in the top two. I think the title may be out of reach but saying that, there's still enough football to be played.

"I just don't think you can write them off anything."

For now, any sort of title challenge will be far from Guardiola's mind and instead he will just be pleased to see his players enjoying themselves again on the pitch.

Phil Foden, in particular, is looking more like the player who claimed a career-best 27 goals and 12 assists last season to be named PFA Player of the Year.

His two goals against Ipswich took his tally to five in the last three league games as he showed a hunger and desire to get into the right positions to finish off chances again.

"It is good to see me back scoring goals with a smile on my face and enjoying football," said Foden, 24.

"I want to keep going and adding to that. You never know what can happen. The aim is to stay in the top four."

After Erling Haaland committed his long-term future to the club last week by signing a nine-and-a-half year deal, Guardiola is keen for Foden to follow in his footsteps.

"He can be a one-club man and finish his career here and play many, many years," said the City boss.

"We talked many times over the last month or weeks, he was a completely different boy at the beginning of the season with a few problems, because they are human beings and sometimes in a long career you have a setback, it's normal.

"But we're really pleased that he's happy again and enjoying playing and that's really good for all of us."

With three wins in their last four games and unbeaten in six, City appear to be hitting form at just the right time as they now switch focus to a crucial Champions League game against Paris St-Germain on Wednesday.

City are 22nd in the league phase of the competition and will need to win their two remaining games to have a chance of qualifying automatically for the knockouts.

The rebuild for the future is also under way and changes expected, both in terms of incomings and outgoings.

Kyle Walker was not in the squad at Ipswich amid links with AC Milan, with Guardiola having said previously the England full-back has been allowed to explore his options.

Meanwhile, Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush is on the verge of joining City, who are also closing in on Brazilian teenage defender Vitor Reis and Lens central defender Abdukodir Khusanov.

"It's about building momentum again," added Schwarzer.

"Being ruthless in front of goal, the key players looking to get back into form, and they certainly showed that against Ipswich.

"I think that's really important for City moving forward."