Pep has Problems in Defence

I think it’s fair to say the loss of several key battle ready squad players like Fernandinho and Zinchenko has been made to feel worse by the unjust injury to Aymeric Laporte. Whilst Nathan Ake is decent on his day, too many times we’ve seen a general problem with his inconsistency and concentration in defence, he’s an excellent ball playing defender, which is exactly what Pep likes to deploy in his favoured system, but when it’s all said and done, I genuinely don’t think the Dutchman is strong, brave or switched on enough to cope with some of the best attackers in the league.

We saw it against Liverpool on Saturday, and we’ve seen it before last season too. City can’t afford to let injuries cost them on their quest for titles this time round, think Fernandinho playing at right back when he got turned inside out by Vinicius Junior, key mistakes in defence ultimately cost them the cup competitions last season, if the sky blues really do want to go on and win it all again – expect them to make another signing or even two before the transfer window shuts in September. Marc Cucurella has just handed in a transfer request at Brighton after a summer of rumours linking him with the champions, I’ve no doubt the Citizens will get stronger all round.

Haaland Will Score Next Weekend

What was expected to be a flying start for the Norwegian goal machine resulted in a bagful of chances uncharacteristically spurned, so much so – the striker smirked his way out of the penalty area, in utter disbelief he’d just missed another golden opportunity in the final minutes. Disbelief is entirely the response Pep and co would want though – this is a man so confident in his abilities he couldn’t believe his eyes and genuinely started laughing when he missed. Now that’s self-belief. No whining, no throwing his arms up in the air, just sheer drive and determination to find himself in the perfect opportunity for another golden chance at grabbing a goal. It really is just a matter of time.

I remember when Zlatan Ibrahimovich played his first game for Manchester United at Bournemouth. Jose Mourinho was like a cheshire cat on the touchline, grinning in full anticipation of what was coming next. He knew the Swede would score, everyone else knew he’d score, yet no one could stop it.

West Ham away isn’t as pretty a prospect as Bournemouth the week after though, in recent years, the Hammers have managed to transform the Olympic Stadium into a tough test for anyone. But let’s be honest, it’s the same story as Ibra – whether he starts or not, Pep knows Haaland will score, the striker knows it too – and so do we. Honestly, good luck stopping him.

Darwin Nunez is No Joke

Signing for one of the worlds biggest clubs in a record transfer deal worth up to £85 million must be a heavy load to bare on the shoulders of a young man still finding his feet in the game. Eager fans were quick to jump on the Uruguayan’s back after a pre season of mixed fortune for the new-man. Memes were flying across social media, and rival fans were starting to wonder whether dropping such an astronomical fee on a relatively raw prospect in world football would come back to haunt the Reds.

One things for sure though, Darwin Nunez certainly didn’t disappoint when he was finally introduced to the action on Saturday. From the minute the striker was subbed in, Nunez’s energy and desire to steal the show and score a winning goal swung the match in Liverpool’s favour in dramatic fashion.

His movement is superb, and was constantly pinned to the back of City’s two centre backs, ready to spin in behind and split the defence as soon as Liverpool’s midfield win the ball back. It was his headed effort that resulted in the penalty, and another stooping header that sealed the game in injury time, and you saw exactly what scoring on his competitive debut meant to the 23 year old – he went absolutely mental, the celebration was an outpouring of sheer jubilation and relief – rightfully so too, it must have been some feeling. Yet just like Haaland himself, seeing Nunez celebrating is clearly something we’re going to have to get used to. If critics were skeptical before Saturday – they’ve definitely been silenced now. Just like the title race, it seems like the golden boot might be a two horse race this season too.

It’s a Two Horse Title Race – Again

I mean, it’s hardly a surprise is it? Since Pep and Klopp’s switch to the Premier League, not only has the landscape of English football dramatically transformed for the better – for the last 5 years, the persistent excellence of both clubs have seen them race clear of the rest and essentially form their own mini Premier League. Jose Mourinho raised the bar in 2005, winning the league with Chelsea at a canter – the stakes were raised and the rest of the league were playing catch up – but the exploits of Guardiola and Klopp have put The Special One to shame, realistically, given the fact Mourinho tried and failed to topple both at United and Tottenham before escaping for Rome, you could argue he was ran out of the league by Pep and Klopp’s revolutionary brand of swashbuckling football.

You’d forgive both teams for taking their foot off the gas a bit. In the last 5 years, they’ve been relentless. Selling key players and admittedly entering a period of transition threatened to bridge the gap slightly, especially given wide-scale improvements to the starting eleven of chasing pack teams like Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea – yet after another 90 minutes of absolute carnage from both clubs, it’s alarmingly obvious the astonishing levels of quality and consistency shown over the years isn’t going to stop anytime soon. To put it bluntly, until Klopp and Guardiola part ways with the Premier League, it’s City or Liverpool’s to win.

The Five Sub Rule is Huge

One alarming takeaway from Saturday’s Community Shield clash is the impact changes to substitution regulations will have in the second half of fixtures. Following a consultation and vote from all 20 Premier League CEOs, managers will be permitted to make five substitutions per game – revitalising the starting eleven and allowing the opportunity to change the teams shape and approach on the pitch.

Whilst Guardiola opted for traditional methods, introducing Foden, Alvarez and Gundogan in the second half in an attempt to swing the game and grab an equaliser. It came in the 70th minute via a debut goal for Alvarez, and the game certainly looked as though it was balanced on a knife edge. But Klopp played his hand, taking full advantage of the new system, after bringing Darwin Nunez into the game, and seeing the equaliser go in – the German threw down the gauntlet, using all 5 substitutes to impeccable effect as his Liverpool side were entirely re energised in the final third of the game. City couldn’t cope with the adjustments made, and their midfield were outfought and ultimately ran into the ground by the time Nunez sealed the victory in stoppage time.

When the season finally kicks off on August 5th, expect the bigger clubs with squads boasting strength in depth to take control of close games against lesser opposition, as reinforcements are introduced in the final 30 minutes – and the new 5 sub rule completely transforms the way managers approach their game plan.