Squad number: 5
Total appearances: 39
Total goals: 0
Total assists: 0
Premier League appearances: 24
Premier League goals: 0
Premier League assists: 1
Total Premier League passes: 1,751
Season’s highlight
Every player played their part in the 2018/19 campaign, but there were pivotal moments when individuals went above and beyond to help City achieve domestic domination.
One of the most important moments in the campaign undoubtedly came when City hosted title-rivals Liverpool at the Etihad - and the hero was John Stones.
The score was still 0-0 and the first goal was always going to be crucial.
So when Sadio Mane broke into City’s penalty area and hit a low shot past Ederson, it looked as though Liverpool had taken the initiative.
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But the ball hit the post and came out to Stones who stopped it at his feet, then struck his clearance against Ederson - the ball rolled towards the goal but Stones recovered and somehow managed to clear it off the line.
Goal-line technology proved there had been just a few millimetres of ball that hadn’t crossed the line and the verdict was ‘no goal’.
The rest is history...
Overview
With 39 appearances in all competitions for City in 2018/19, John Stones more than earned his title as a Fourmidable.
The England defender staked a claim in City’s back four but had to share responsibilities with Nicolas Otamendi and Vincent Kompany in partnering the one central defensive mainstay, Aymeric Laporte.
An ever-willing recipient of the ball from deep positions, Stones never shirked responsibility and kept his head held high at all times.
He didn’t contribute with any goals in 2018/19, but will no doubt find the net many more times in the years to come.
A supremely gifted defender, Stones has all the attributes to become one of the best defenders in the world.
And given the eventual outcome of the Premier League title race, the goal-line clearance against Liverpool was worth its weight in gold.
