The international break may have come at the perfect time for Manchester City after several of their key players hit form while representing their respective countries.
Like many of the other Premier League's big-hitters, City struggled to gain any real momentum before this most recent break in the domestic calendar, winning just three of their seven opening games in the top-flight.
Following their heavy 5-2 defeat to Leicester in September, City have looked sluggish and have since lost ground to the Foxes, Tottenham and Liverpool at the top of the table.