Manchester City

After Ilkay Gundogan missed from the spot in Sunday's 2-0 Premier League defeat at Tottenham Hotspur, Pep Guardiola said he lets his Manchester City players decide who takes penalties.

The English champions dominated for long spells but failed to take a 40th-minute lead when the Germany international's penalty was saved by Hugo Lloris.

Speaking to the BBC (h/t Alex Shaw of Goal), the manager explained after the match it's not him who decides which individual takes a penalty.

"They decide," Guardiola said. "If we scored, it would have been better maybe, but in the second half, we started well and created chances to score and didn't do that. Until [Oleksandr] Zinchenko was sent off, the rest was OK."

The high-octane game saw Jose Mourinho's men on the back foot before half-time, and City's penalty was awarded by VAR in controversial circumstances.

Sergio Aguero was tackled by Serge Aurier in the penalty area, but referee Mike Dean signalled he believed the Spurs full-back had made contact with the ball.

Play was allowed to continue, with Spurs pushing forward, but VAR's intervention advised Dean to stop the game and award a penalty.

The length of time it took to make the call surprised the crowd and players, with both managers appearing perplexed on the touchline. When the penalty was finally taken, Gundogan's effort was kept out.

Controversy continued as Lloris attempted to gather the rebound after his save, only to be beaten to the ball by Raheem Sterling, with the forward falling to the ground after the Frenchman's challenge.

Once again, VAR came into play, but a second penalty was not awarded. Sterling was also not booked for simulation, which would have resulted in his sending off for a second yellow.

A red was shown for City in the second half when Zinchenko was given a second yellow for a blatant charge. The moment handed the initiative to Spurs, who quickly scored through debutant Steven Bergwijn.

The 63rd-minute opener was followed by Son's winner with 19 minutes remaining.

City are now 22 points behind leaders Liverpool in second place after suffering their sixth league defeat of the campaign. The Reds have the chance to be crowned champions as early as March 21 when they play Crystal Palace.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has defended star forward Raheem Sterling amid his recent run without scoring.

The forward enjoyed a remarkable start to the campaign and took his goalscoring tally to 20 with a brace against Wolverhampton Wanderers in December.

However, since that 3-2 defeat, the forward has failed to find the net in his past seven games, with the ruthless edge he's managed to find in recent seasons deserting him. Ahead of the Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, Guardiola said he has no concerns about the England international, per Simon Mullock of the Sunday Mirror:

"Raheem is one of the only guys I’ve met in my career with a recovery quicker than I’ve ever seen before. It’s incredible. He could play every three days and of course the more he plays regularly the better and better he feels.

"Raheem defended brilliantly in the last game (against Manchester United) and had clear chances that no other player can create for themselves. Unfortunately he could not score a goal - but he was there, so I am more than delighted with his performance against United.

"The people with statistics with goals and assists say it has been a month but I am not judging Raheem just for that. It is important but not the only thing."

As Guardiola noted, in City's 1-0 loss to Manchester United on Wednesday, Sterling was presented with a number of opportunities. However, when it came to the critical moment, the 25-year-old was hesitant with his finishing:

The wait goes on for a goal against #MUFC for Sterling!

How costly could this prove for #MCFC?

Follow live updates and clips as #MCFC host #MUFC in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg live on Sky Sports Football here 👉 https://t.co/mAlNT4yXhM pic.twitter.com/bEdVTNbNfA

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 29, 2020

Jack Gaughan of the Daily Mail thinks the miss against the Red Devils epitomised a challenging spell for Sterling:

Raheem Sterling's last two months in one clip

— Jack Gaughan (@Jack_Gaughan) January 29, 2020

Although he's struggling to find the net, it isn't a shock that Guardiola is at ease with the winger, who's been one of the best players in the Premier League in recent years.

Whether on the left or right flank, Sterling can terrify full-backs with his shift in pace and close control. Under Guardiola, he's also developed a penchant for getting into excellent positions, meaning he often caps off some of City's sweeping attacking moves.

Per Sam Lee of The Athletic, for one reason or another, those moments aren't emerging as much for Sterling:

Sterling is always going to be in good positions because he's always alert to where he should be and where the ball is going to go, but the execution when he gets there is just off at the moment. Confidence? One-on-ones always been an area of improvement at the best of times

— Sam Lee (@SamLee) January 29, 2020

Guardiola will be hopeful Sterling can rediscover that edge soon, though. While the Premier League title is effectively gone, with Liverpool racing clear, City will be hopeful of challenging for the UEFA Champions League and FA Cup, while they are also in the EFL Cup final.

As one of their most productive attacking players, Sterling will be key if City are to finish the season with silverware. Given the focus on him pre-match, it will be intriguing to see how he performs at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, especially if a big chance comes his way.

Manchester City slipped further behind Liverpool in the Premier League title race in January, but they remained in the hunt for the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. 

The Citizens picked up 2-1 and 6-1 wins over Everton and Aston Villa, respectively, in their first two league matches of 2020, but they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Crystal Palace.

The stalemate continued their trend of failing to win more than three Premier League matches in succession this season and allowed Liverpool to extend their lead to 19 points.

In the FA Cup, City breezed into the fifth round as they beat Port Vale 4-1 and Fulham 4-0.

Pep Guardiola's side will also have the chance to win the Carabao Cup for the third season running as they triumphed 3-2 on aggregate over Manchester United in the semi-finals.

       

Manchester City Statistical Leaders in Premier League

Goals: Sergio Aguero 16, Raheem Sterling 11, Gabriel Jesus 9, Kevin De Bruyne 7, Riyad Mahrez 7, Bernardo Silva 5

Assists: Kevin De Bruyne 15, David Silva 7, Riyad Mahrez 7, Bernardo Silva 4, Gabriel Jesus 4

Passes: Rodrigo 1,553, Fernandinho 1,541, Kevin De Bruyne 1,265, Ilkay Gundogan 1,247, Kyle Walker 1,179

Stats via the official Premier League website and WhoScored.com.

             

Aguero Sets Premier League Record

• 4 starts (1 sub), 7 goals, 1 assist (all competitions)
• 18 shots (Premier League, Carabao Cup)
• Highest Pass Success Percentage: 90.9 vs. Manchester United (1-0 defeat)

                

It was a month to remember for Sergio Aguero, who had a hand in eight goals for City in January.

The striker bagged his first goal of 2020 in the FA Cup win over Port Vale, before notching a fine hat-trick in the 6-1 demolition of Villa:

In doing so, he overtook Alan Shearer's Premier League hat-trick record. The Argentinian had pulled level with the Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers legend on 11 hat-tricks in February last year, and his haul against Villa took him clear on 12.

His efforts also took him beyond Thierry Henry's 175 Premier League goals, making him the highest-scoring foreign player.

Aguero followed up his hat-trick with a brace against Palace—the first of which took him to 250 goals for City—and the decisive goal in a 1-0 win over Sheffield United.

That took his tally to 180 in the Premier League goalscoring charts, ahead of Frank Lampard's 177. Only Shearer (260), Wayne Rooney (208) and Andy Cole (187) are now above the 31-year-old.

                        

Jesus Starts 2020 in Style

• 4 starts (2 subs), 5 goals, 2 assists (all competitions)
• 16 shots (Premier League, Carabao Cup)
• Highest Pass Success Percentage: 87.1 vs. Aston Villa (6-1 win)

                     

With City playing eight matches in January, Jesus saw plenty of time on the pitch, with Guardiola rotating him and Aguero up front.

The Brazilian was almost as productive as his counterpart, with five goals and two assists to his name.

He notched both goals as City beat Everton 2-1 on New Year's Day:

Aguero naturally stole the headlines against Villa, but Jesus also performed well in their only start together of the month with a goal and an assist.

He laid on another assist with a superb ball for Aguero's first goal against Palace, and he found the net twice more in their FA Cup win over Fulham.

The 22-year-old needs five more goals to equal his previous best tally of 21 in all competitions, which he set last season.

Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne has criticised his side's performance in their 1-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester United on Wednesday.

City progressed to the final 3-2 on aggregate, having won 3-1 in the first leg of the semi-final at Old Trafford, but De Bruyne was concerned that they did not take their chances.

He told Sky Sports (h/t Goal's Jonathan Smith):

"I can't really comprehend how we lost this game. We were way too wasteful today, we have to learn from this.

"We got sloppy. The goal, we don't clear the lines really good and out of nothing they scored. We need to learn from the mistakes."

United won on the night thanks to Nemanja Matic's first-half effort, ensuring a tense end to the game for the Citizens until the Serb was sent off for a second bookable offence, which dented the Red Devils' hopes of completing a comeback.

Sergio Aguero was repeatedly denied by David De Gea, though, and Raheem Sterling failed to hit the target when presented with a gilt-edged chance:

Pep Guardiola's side were more clinical in the first leg, as Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and an Andreas Pereira own goal sent them on their way before Marcus Rashford pulled one back:

However, even in that game, City could easily have been more than three goals ahead before Rashford grabbed his, such was their dominance.

The Sky Blues will be overwhelming favourites in the final against Aston Villa, whom they beat 6-1 earlier in January, but their profligacy is understandably a worry with Real Madrid awaiting in the UEFA Champions League round of 16.

De Bruyne's team-mate Ilkay Gundogan said the clashes with United were a "great test" for their two-legged tie with Los Blancos and that Guardiola had told them the match would be "an experience we have to survive and overcome."

City have scored 65 goals in the Premier League this season, nine more than leaders Liverpool, so finding the net isn't normally a problem for them. To progress past Madrid they can ill afford not to convert any chances that come their way, though, particularly as the Spanish giants have shipped just 13 La Liga goals in 24 games this season.

The English champions' defence is an even more pressing concern. They were unable to see out the first leg with a clean sheet, and their defending for Matic's goal wasn't exactly convincing, either.

The Citizens have conceded 27 goals in 24 league matches this season—having shipped just 23 in the whole of the last campaign—so they could be vulnerable against an attack comprising Eden Hazard and Karim Benzema.

Manchester City were beaten 1-0 by Manchester United in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday, but it was not enough to prevent Pep Guardiola's side winning 3-2 on aggregate to secure a place in the final against Aston Villa.

The hosts went into the game leading 3-1 from the first leg and ought to have extended their advantage in a dominant opening spell but were denied by David De Gea in the United goal.

Nemanja Matic scored for the Red Devils on 35 minutes to give the visitors hope of achieving a famous comeback. The midfielder swept a sweet finish past Claudio Bravo from Fred's free-kick from the left.

City dominated the second half after a nervy opening 10 minutes but saw both Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero waste chances to put the game out of the visitors' reach. United were reduced to 10 men on 76 minutes when Matic was sent off for a second bookable offence, allowing City to see out the game and book their place in the final.

Guardiola made two changes to his starting XI from the first leg, bringing in Joao Cancelo and Aguero for Benjamin Mendy and Fernandinho. United also made changes, with Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Matic and Anthony Martial all starting.

City began the game quickly and tested De Gea twice in the opening 10 minutes. Ilkay Gundogan floated in a cross for Aguero to stoop and head goalwards, but he could not beat a diving De Gea, who parried the ball clear.

De Gea was then called into action immediately afterwards, sticking out a boot to block a snapshot from Riyad Mahrez at his near post.

City continued to attack and had a penalty claim minutes later when Sterling went down under pressure from Maguire, but referee Andre Marriner waved away the hosts' appeals.

The chances continued to flow for Guardiola's side in the opening 30 minutes. De Gea tipped another effort from Aguero over his crossbar, while Maguire just managed to slide in and deny Sterling when he had been sent through on goal by a sublime Kevin De Bruyne pass.

United's goal came against the run of play after Jesse Lingard was fouled outside the penalty area by Rodri. Bernardo Silva attempted to clear Fred's free-kick, but his header fell kindly for Matic to sweep home his first goal since Boxing Day 2018, per Opta.

Guardiola's side thought they had equalised three minutes before half-time. De Bruyne's low cross in from the left was converted by Sterling at close range, only to be correctly chalked out for offside.

United replaced Mason Greenwood with Daniel James at half-time, and the winger won an early foul to set up a chance for the Red Devils. Again Fred floated the ball into the penalty area, but Maguire could only head over the crossbar.

Sterling wasted a glorious chance to restore City's two-goal advantage just before the hour after being sent clean through by De Bruyne. The England international delayed his shot and ended up blazing an effort over the bar.

De Gea was called upon again to deny a fierce effort from Kyle Walker, while Aguero went close with a shot that flew into the side-netting.

United still needed another goal to force the game to penalties but saw their hopes of progressing fade when Matic picked up his second yellow card for a cynical foul on Gundogan as he tried to break.

The holders ought to have sealed it late on when Aguero curled the ball past De Gea after being sent through by Cancelo, but again the offside flag went up and the goal was ruled out.

It was a valiant effort from United at their neighbours' home, but City did just enough to progress to their third consecutive EFL Cup final.

             

What's Next?

Manchester United return to action on Saturday with a Premier League fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford. Manchester City play away at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Manchester City have confirmed that Leroy Sane has returned to full training after being sidelined since August with a knee injury:

Back in full training 💪

🏃‍♂️ @LeroySane19
🔵 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/KNILnyjjIk

— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 28, 2020

Sane suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage in the 2019 Community Shield against Liverpool at Wembley Stadium and subsequently underwent surgery.

He was back in training with Manchester City on Tuesday as the team were put through their paces ahead of Wednesday's Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Manchester United.

Yet manager Pep Guardiola may have to wait to hand Sane his first competitive appearance of the season, as he is not expected to return to first-team action for at least a couple of weeks, according to Stuart Brennan at the Manchester Evening News.

Sane's return is still a boost for Manchester City for the second half of the season. The German is a dangerous attacker who has already enjoyed great success at the club since joining from Schalke in 2016:

Leroy Sané's Premier League career by numbers:

🔵 89 games
🔵 28 assists
🔵 25 goals
🔵 2 titles
🔵 1 Young Player of the Year

Happy 24th birthday. pic.twitter.com/dPHF1pIy8o

— Squawka (@Squawka) January 11, 2020

Manchester City's hopes of retaining their Premier League title look over, as they are a distant 16 points behind Liverpool and have played a game extra, but they remain in contention in the Carabao Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League.

Sane's return to fitness may also reignite interest in his services from Bayern Munich. The German champions were reportedly interested in signing him last summer before he suffered his knee injury.

Bayern's chief executive officer Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has refused to rule out a move for Sane when talking to German journalist Manuel Bonke (h/t the Mirror's Alex Smith).

He said: "If we are still interested in principle, which I do not rule out, we will first talk to the club in order to create a friendly atmosphere of conversation."

Sane's time at Manchester City has not always been smooth. He has been dropped from the starting XI at times by Guardiola, raising doubts over his long-term future at the club.

Manchester City announced on Tuesday that midfielder Fernandinho has signed a one-year contract extension at the Etihad Stadium. The new deal runs until the summer of 2021:

🔥2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣1️⃣🔥

Another year of @fernandinho!!!

🔵 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/rrEEKTHC5x

— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 28, 2020

The 34-year-old joined Manchester City from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013 and has become a key figure for Pep Guardiola's side, winning three Premier League titles, the FA Cup and four League Cups.

Fernandinho took to social media to express his gratitude at extending his stay with the Premier League champions:

I never expected to build such a meaningful relationship with the Club and the fans, but it has happened. KEEP PUSHING. WE ARE CITY. UNTIL THE END.  #CMONCITY

— Fernandinho (@fernandinho) January 28, 2020

The Brazil international is regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders around but has also been used in central defence this season to cover for injuries to Aymeric Laporte and John Stones.

Squawka Football highlighted his defensive contribution:

Fernandinho has made more tackles (37) and blocks (11) than any other Manchester City player this season.

Signs on for one more year. 💪 pic.twitter.com/ljxPSfvZUr

— Squawka (@Squawka) January 28, 2020

Guardiola spoke to Sky Sports about Fernandinho's "deserved" new contract and praised him for his performances in defence this season:

"What he has done with the problems we had - I am so happy to have him"

Pep Guardiola hails Fernandinho after the Man City man penned a new one-year contract with the club

More: https://t.co/F4ymslRDMT pic.twitter.com/xbBTZh7AIC

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 28, 2020

Txiki Begiristain, Manchester City's director of football, said Fernandinho's experience will benefit the club's young players, per Rob Pollard at the club's official website.

“This new deal reflects Fernandinho's quality and commitment. He is not only a first-class professional and one of the best players in world football, he is a fantastic person who leads by example every single day.

“We have a talented young squad – but making sure they are supplemented by senior players of Fernandinho’s ilk is of paramount importance. What he brings in terms of leadership and professionalism is valued by everyone at the football club."

Fernandinho is heading towards the end of his career but remains a vital presence for City. His versatility has been important for Guardiola's men this season and is another reason why the club have been keen to tie him down for another year.

Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has said he doesn't have a "concrete plan" on his future and that he would be open to a possible move to Major League Soccer.

Gundogan agreed a new contract with the Premier League champions in August, extending his stay at the club until 2023. His previous deal was set to expire at the end of the campaign, and throughout the summer there was speculation aplenty over a possible switch.

Speaking to Kicker meets DAZN podcast (h/t Chris Burton of Goal), Gundogan said he would be open to a move abroad in the future, although where he would move would depend on his condition and form:

"I don't have a concrete plan, but I would trust myself to play in another league abroad.

"It also depends on my form then. When I am 32, 33 and I realise that I can't keep my level or it is dropping, it will be a stop abroad, where you might not play at the highest level and not keep up with [the] Premier League.

"If I were to say I want to leave and continue playing at a high level, only Spain or Italy would be an option for me. Italy is on the up—it has become very tempting again, and I hope the stadiums fill up again too.

"But if I were to say the sporting challenge might not be that high anymore, then things like the U.S. are definitely an alternative—also because of the life there and the other opportunities you have."

In the same report, Gundogan added that he has no intention of leaving City yet. "We are playing football at an extremely high level, and success is always possible here in every season," he continued.

You suspect Pep Guardiola would be loathe to lose the 29-year-old, as he is still a first-team regular at the Etihad Stadium:

Ilkay Gundogan: Made 162 accurate passes in Manchester City's final day 4-1 win at Brighton, a record in a Premier League match last season https://t.co/ROgs3p4sDN

— WhoScored (@WhoScored) August 9, 2019

The former Borussia Dortmund man can operate as a deep-sitting playmaker in front of defence and manage the game, although is just as adept when used in a more orthodox midfield position. His close control, incisive passing and awareness makes him a major asset.

In addition, Gundogan can also chip in with goals, most notably from set-piece situations. He opened the scoring from the penalty spot on Sunday in City's 4-0 win over Fulham in the FA Cup:

The reigning #EmiratesFACup champions @ManCity are through to the fifth round! 🔵 pic.twitter.com/EsErFrnZ3k

— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 26, 2020

With David Silva leaving the club at the end of the campaign, Guardiola will be reluctant to lose any more experience from the midfield positions ahead of next term.

Gundogan's positional adaptability and familiarity with the manager's demands make him useful. Although he may not necessarily be in City's best XI, given the number of matches they play throughout the campaign, the Germany star will get plenty of time on the field.

Holders Manchester City cruised into the fifth round of the FA Cup on Sunday with a 4-0 win over 10-man Fulham at the Etihad Stadium.

The visitors suffered a nightmare start when Tim Ream was sent off for hauling down Gabriel Jesus after just six minutes, and Ilkay Gundogan guided home the resulting penalty.

Bernardo Silva doubled Manchester City's lead with a neat turn and finish past goalkeeper Marek Rodak from the edge of the penalty area. 

Jesus headed home Joao Cancelo's cross to make it 3-0 on 72 minutes and completed the scoring three minutes later with another header from close range.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola made seven changes to his starting XI for Sunday's match, handing youngsters Eric Garcia, Angelino and Phil Foden starts and leaving Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling on the bench.

Fulham were without top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic due to injury, meaning boss Scott Parker continued with Bobby Decordova-Reid in attack alongside Ivan Cavaleiro and Josh Onomah:

🚨 TEAM NEWS 🚨

Here's how Man City and Fulham line up 📝

🗣️🎙️ We have live commentary of #MCIFUL with @ConorMcNamaraIE and @Robert1Green #FACup pic.twitter.com/eMQ5UyQm6k

— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) January 26, 2020

The Championship side's hopes of pulling off a shock suffered a huge blow in the opening minutes when they lost Ream to a straight red card. David Silva's dummy sent Jesus sprinting through on goal, and Ream left referee Kevin Friend with little choice but to send him off after he pulled the Brazilian back.

Gundogan squeezed the ball past goalkeeper Rodak to give the hosts an early lead and continue his fine goalscoring form at home in the competition:

8 - Ilkay Gündogan has been directly involved in eight goals in just five FA Cup appearances at the Etihad for Manchester City (1 goal, 7 assists). Spot. pic.twitter.com/BzCjwNSQq5

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 26, 2020

Manchester City's second arrived a little over 10 minutes later through the lively Bernardo. The Portugal international picked up possession inside the penalty area, twisted and turned to find some space before tucking a low finish home.

The goal was City's 100th of the season in all competitions and saw them hit a landmark:

Man City become the first club to hit 100 goals across all competitions in Europe's top five leagues this season 💯 pic.twitter.com/4tKJkktjHS

— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 26, 2020

City's early goals and man advantage put them in complete control and they wasted chances to extend their lead further. Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez both put chances off-target in the first half, while Sterling came off the bench after the break and hit the crossbar.

Jesus finally added a third after Fulham had been caught out again trying to play out from the back. The ball was played to Cancelo to cross for Jesus to head home.

Fulham failed to learn their lesson and a fourth City goal arrived shortly afterwards in similar fashion. This time Michael Hector was dispossessed by Jesus, and the striker ended up nodding into an empty net after Rodak had parried Foden's effort:

Man City have scored 4+ goals in every FA Cup tie at the Etihad under Pep Guardiola:

⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ vs. Huddersfield
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ vs. Burnley
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ vs. Rotherham
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ vs. Burnley
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ vs. Port Vale
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ vs. Fulham

The holders march on. pic.twitter.com/jV6qjq540K

— Squawka (@Squawka) January 26, 2020

Guardiola's side could hardly have asked for a more comfortable afternoon as they bid to retain their trophy, while Fulham's FA Cup dreams are over and they can now turn their focus back to the Championship promotion race.

    

What's Next?

Manchester City host Manchester United in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday, leading 3-1 from the first leg. Fulham's next game is against Huddersfield Town in the Championship on Saturday at Craven Cottage.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said that Aymeric Laporte's return from a long-term knee injury is a boost to the Citizens but will not solve all of their problems.

Guardiola told reporters on Friday that the centre-back makes City a better team following his return to action against Sheffield United on Tuesday after being out five months:

"He played more than 70 minutes in his first game. He played well but he is not going to solve all our problems. He is one more player we can use. He's a guy who helps with our build-up, he helps us keep the ball better and because of that we are not as vulnerable to counter-attacks.

"He's strong in the air, fast and has a special personality. His attributes can help us be a better team. When we play good we don't need him, and that's happened most of the time this season."

Laporte was forced to undergo knee surgery in September on an injury suffered in Manchester City's 4-0 Premier League win over Brighton & Hove Albion.

Manchester City had taken seven points from nine before Laporte's injury but have struggled without the France international. They have slipped 16 points behind leaders Liverpool in the Premier League and have played a game more than the Reds, but they hold a three-point advantage over Leicester City for second place.

Opta highlighted how their defence has leaked goals in 2019-20 compared to last season:

23 - Manchester City have conceded 23 Premier League goals in 19 games this season - as many as they conceded in the entirety of the 2018/19 campaign. Worrying. pic.twitter.com/rUu5Udmnj8

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 27, 2019

Captain Vincent Kompany departed in the summer, and the absence of Laporte left Guardiola short of defensive options. 

John Stones has also missed chunks of the season with injury and has criticised for some poor displays, although Guardiola has defended the centre-back:

Pep Guardiola has backed John Stones amid fresh criticism of the Manchester City defender's form |#ITVFootball pic.twitter.com/z1bt94et4c

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 20, 2020

Guardiola has turned to midfielders Fernandinho and Rodri to fill in at the back, and Laporte's return to full fitness will be welcomed by all at the club. Tuesday marked City picking up their first clean sheet in six games.

The manager, in his fourth season at the Etihad Stadium, described the 25-year-old as the "best left-sided central defender in the world" after the match, per BBC Sport.

There is no doubt that City are a stronger team with Laporte in the starting XI, and his return will improve their chances of picking up silverware this season. Retaining the Premier League title may be out of reach, but they do remain in contention in the Carabao Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League.