Having shone at Elland Road in midweek on what was his first Premier League start for the Club, Academy graduate Lewis retained his place for the visit of Frank Lampard’s Merseysiders.
Though the New Year’s Eve clash ended with honours even, with Erling Haaland’s 21st Premier League goal of the season being cancelled out by Demarai Gray’s second half strike, Lewis again shone bright for Pep Guardiola’s side.
And reflecting on the performance in our latest edition of Matchday Live, special guest Shaun Goater paid handsome tribute to Lewis’s remarkable impact and how his emergence has only further strengthened competition for places in the City back line.
CITY+ | SIGN UP TO ACCESS EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
“When we talk about positives, I thought Rico Lewis was awesome again,” former City strike legend Goater declared.
“And the only reason he’s was brought off is that Pep felt he needed to try and make something happen in the final third late in the game.
“But I thought Rico’s understanding of when to go inside, when to be outside, when to receive the ball in little pockets, and the way he used his body to protect the ball (was superb).
“It was really intelligent and with Rico there is now some really good competition for that position at right back with Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo.”
City’s immediate focus now switches to a double header against Chelsea with the champions locking horns with Graham Potter’s side twice inside three days as we embark on an intense January schedule.
First, we travel to Stamford Bridge on Thursday night for a key Premier League assignment before the sides then meet again at the Etihad next Sunday afternoon in the third round of the FA Cup.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL MAN CITY APP
And for Goater and Saturday’s fellow Matchday Live special guest David James, the games with the Londoners represent the ideal challenge as we look to quickly get back to winning ways.
“I’m sure there will be some changes and I think what’s good about the Chelsea game is that they need to win too,” former City and England keeper James asserted.
“On Saturday I felt that Everton needed to not lose.
“But for Chelsea - in terms of their Champions League push - they need to beat City so in a sense that might make it a more open affair and, hopefully, a bit easier for City.”
“Whenever City have a setback, we know that this team is then capable of going off on a run of 15/18 games of consecutive wins, so I feel for the teams that we have got to face,” Goater added.
“I think we will come out fresh (on Thursday). I think Pep will look at it and I think there will be non-stop energy.”
