Fulham Stalemate: Man City Player Ratings, Haaland Absent
Manchester City were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at Craven Cottage by Fulham, a result that sees them remain 5 points clear at the top of the table. The absence of Erling Haaland was keenly felt, with City struggling to break down a resolute Fulham defense. Let's look at the individual performances of the City players:
Ederson (6/10): A quiet evening for the Brazilian goalkeeper, with little to do outside of a couple of routine saves.
Kyle Walker (7/10): Solid defensively, providing his usual overlapping runs down the right flank. A constant threat going forward, though his final product was lacking.
Ruben Dias (7/10): A rock at the heart of the City defense. Won every aerial duel and was calm under pressure.
Nathan Aké (6/10): A steady performance from the Dutch defender. He was a reliable presence in the backline, though he lacked the attacking threat of his teammates.
Manuel Akanji (6/10): A solid outing, but lacked the cutting edge of his defensive partners.
Rodri (7/10): The engine room of City's midfield. He controlled the tempo of the game and provided vital protection for the backline.
Kevin De Bruyne (6/10): A frustrating night for the Belgian maestro. He was unable to find his usual rhythm, with his passes lacking the usual precision.
Ilkay Gündogan (6/10): A hard-working performance, covering a lot of ground in midfield. His passing wasn't as sharp as usual, but he was a valuable presence in the middle of the park.
Bernardo Silva (7/10): City's most dynamic attacker. He constantly tried to make things happen, and looked to be the most likely to break the deadlock, with some incisive runs and skillful passes.
Phil Foden (6/10): Tried to inject some creativity into the City attack, but he was often crowded out by the Fulham defense.
Jack Grealish (6/10): A quiet performance from the English winger. He struggled to impact the game, with his crosses often failing to find their targets.
Substitutes:
Julian Alvarez (6/10): Introduced in the second half, he looked lively and eager to make an impact, but he was unable to break through the Fulham defense.
Erling Haaland (N/A): Missed the game due to injury.
Overall:
Despite creating a number of chances, City were unable to find a way past Fulham's stubborn defense. The absence of Haaland was certainly felt, as the team lacked a true focal point in attack. While City still remain at the top of the table, this result will serve as a warning that they cannot afford to be complacent if they want to retain their title.
