1 Midfield masterclass
It’s Pep Guardiola’s long-held view that football matches are won and lost in midfield. It is there, he feels, that control is gained and the balance of power is determined.
No wonder, then, City are unbeaten in the Premier League this season. Our midfield three of Fernandinho, David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne has the perfect mix of attributes and opposition sides are struggling to combat them.
Fernandinho is the anchor; a disciplined, hard-working defensive midfielder who shields the back four and allows Silva and De Bruyne the confidence to go forward and create.
Silva returned to the side last night to deliver a man-of-the-match display, and his role in City’s first two goals should not be underestimated. He knits City’s play together with his wonderful passing quality and ability to regain possession, no matter how tight the space.
And De Bruyne, arguably the Premier League’s player of the season so far, is the man with the killer final ball. Crosses, throughballs, free-kicks, corners – all are perfectly weighted and delivered with pinpoint accuracy.
Indeed, the Belgian returned to action having been stretchered off the field at Selhurst Park two days earlier. “He had some pain but wanted to play, if he wants to play then I want him to play. It says a lot [about his character],” Guardiola said afterwards.
It’s a midfield that blends artistry and industry and is the platform on which City’s fine form is built.
2 Sterling season
Raheem Sterling’s wonderful form continues.
He opened the scoring after 38 seconds – the fastest goal scored in the Premier League this season and his 18th of the campaign in all competitions.
It’s a remarkable record for a player primarily operating in wide areas.
The timing of his runs has improved dramatically, and he’s regularly finding himself in goalscoring positions. Leroy Sane knows if he can get to the byline and cross to the back post, Sterling is likely to arrive at just the right moment to apply the finish.
Long may it continue.
3 Ederson factor
The sign of a top-class goalkeeper is his ability to make saves in a game in which he has little to do.
And that’s exactly what Ederson did on Tuesday, making first-half stops from Richarlison and Andre Gray that ensured City went in at half-time with a lead our dominance deserved.
City were in near-total control in the first period but were cut open twice. Without Ederson’s proactive goalkeeping, it could have been 2-2 at the break, which would been a travesty.
READ: Pep gives update on City’s injury concerns
PICTURES: John Stones returns to action
4 Stones returns
Perhaps the most welcome sight on Tuesday was the return of John Stones. The England man had missed 12 matches through injury but played 67 minutes of the win over Watford and look assured throughout.
It’s a timely boost for Guardiola. Stones was perhaps City’s in-form player before his setback at Leicester and despite our good form in his absence, his quality on the ball is always great to see.
Welcome back, John.
5 Drink it in
The draw at Crystal Palace may have ended our remarkable run of consecutive Premier League victories but let’s take a moment to remember we are 15 points clear of second-placed Manchester United and it’s only the first week of January.
City are now unbeaten in 31 domestic matches in a run stretching back into last season.
This, by anyone’s standards, has been a wonderful season to date.
