City’s record-breaking goal-den wonders send a warning to Liverpool
IN the great scheme of things, City’s latest Premier League first was not their most exciting.
When Riyad Mahrez finished off Kevin de Bruyne’s cross to put the Blues 2-0 up against Newcastle on Wednesday night, only a true football anorak will have spotted - or cared about - the significance.
The goal put him on double figures for the season, and that made him the fifth City player to hit double figures in the league in this campaign, the first time any team has achieved that feat.
But it should not be met with a shrug of the shoulders and a puffing of the cheeks, because that stat could well be the difference between City and the rest of the title hopefuls next season.
Mahrez joined Sergio Aguero (16), Raheem Sterling (14), Gabriel Jesus (11) and De Bruyne (11). Of course, it means little in terms of this season’s title - the stark reality of Liverpool’s 23-point lead at the top is the only stat that matters in that particular scrap.
But it was an encouraging reminder for City fans that their team is capable of scoring from all over the pitch, with all three front runners, and a midfielder, making significant contribution.
That is the reason City repeatedly out-score a world-class Liverpool team and why, if they can sort out their defensive shortcomings, the Blues will be back in the fight next season, especially with Phil Foden now looking very much like a player who will contribute plenty of goals.
Liverpool’s figures are a stark contrast. Only Mo Salah (19) and Sadio Mane (16) are in double figures, with Roberto Firmino’s eight goals their next highest.
That underlines just how reliant the Merseysiders are on those two, just as they lean heavily on Virgil Van Dijk to shore them up at the other end.
The fact those three rarely miss a game through injury can be put down to good conditioning, and excellent medical staff or sheer good luck probably a combination of all three.
But they have been regulars for two seasons, and that has boosted Liverpool to achieve two exceptionally good campaigns.
The wait has been a long one, but many City fans are wondering how they will cope if they were to lose one of those three key men for a long spell, in the way they have lost Aymeric Laporte, De Bruyne and Aguero at various stages of the last two seasons.
Guardiola believes the title race could involve four horses next season, throwing Chelsea and United into the mix.
Possessing a goal threat from so many players is a major advantage for City, and shows that the real issue is not as much about sticking them away at the right end, as it is stopping them at the other.