Man City Ratings: Haaland Disappears in Fulham Draw
Manchester City's perfect start to the Premier League season came to a halt at Craven Cottage, as they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Fulham. The absence of Erling Haaland, the Norwegian goal machine, was a major talking point, as he failed to make an impact in the game. Here's a breakdown of the Man City players' performances:
Ederson (7/10): Ederson was largely untroubled throughout the game, but he made a crucial save in the second half to deny Carlos Vinicius. His distribution was sharp as ever, initiating attacks from the back.
Kyle Walker (7/10): Walker was a constant threat down the right flank, his pace and power causing problems for Fulham's defence. He provided some dangerous crosses but ultimately couldn't find a teammate in the box.
Ruben Dias (7/10): Dias was his usual composed self at the heart of the City defence. He dealt with everything Fulham threw at him with ease and even made a crucial interception to deny Willian a clear shot.
Manuel Akanji (6/10): Akanji had a relatively quiet game, but he was solid defensively, showing good positional awareness and composure. He didn't have much opportunity to showcase his passing ability.
Nathan Aké (6/10): Aké was solid on the left side of the defence, dealing with the threat of Willian effectively. He also showed good positional awareness, preventing Fulham from breaking through on a few occasions.
Rodri (7/10): Rodri was a dominant force in midfield, controlling the tempo of the game and winning crucial tackles. He was also involved in the build-up play, showing his range of passing and vision.
Kevin De Bruyne (6/10): De Bruyne struggled to find his rhythm against a stubborn Fulham defence. He lacked his usual sharpness and creativity, but he still showed glimpses of his talent with some clever passes.
Bernardo Silva (7/10): Silva was one of City's most dynamic players, constantly looking to create opportunities. He was unlucky not to score with a curling shot in the first half.
Phil Foden (6/10): Foden was lively and energetic, but he struggled to make a decisive impact. He tried to create space for himself but ultimately couldn't find the killer pass or shot.
Erling Haaland (5/10): Haaland was a ghost in this game. He was starved of service and hardly had any touches in dangerous areas. He struggled to make an impact and was ultimately replaced in the second half.
Julian Alvarez (6/10): Alvarez came on for Haaland in the second half and provided more of a threat. He showed good movement and worked hard to create chances, but his finishing wasn't quite on point.
Substitutes:
- Cole Palmer (6/10): Palmer came on for Silva in the second half and showed his energy and creativity.
- Mateo Kovacic (6/10): Kovacic came on for De Bruyne in the second half and helped to control the tempo of the game.
Overall: While the draw is a minor setback for Man City, they remain top of the table. Their dominance was evident throughout the game, but they lacked the cutting edge and creativity to break down a stubborn Fulham defence. The absence of Haaland was felt, but the team will need to find a way to overcome this obstacle and continue their quest for Premier League glory.
