Where Was Haaland? Man City Ratings vs Fulham: A Disappointing Draw
Manchester City were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at Craven Cottage against Fulham on Sunday, a result that saw Erling Haaland's goal drought extend and left Pep Guardiola with questions to answer. While the Citizens dominated possession and created chances, they ultimately lacked the cutting edge to break down a resilient Fulham side.
Where was Haaland?
The Norwegian superstar, who has been on fire this season, was surprisingly quiet against Marco Silva's men. He struggled to get into the game, failing to find any meaningful space in the Fulham box. While he had a few half-chances, none of them came close to the quality of his previous performances. Haaland's lack of impact was a major talking point, and it will be interesting to see how Pep Guardiola adjusts his game plan in the coming weeks.
Man City Ratings:
Ederson: A comfortable afternoon for the Brazilian keeper, who had very little to do. 7/10
Kyle Walker: Back to his usual marauding self, providing a constant threat down the right flank. 7.5/10
Ruben Dias: Solid and commanding as ever, forming a formidable defensive partnership with his centre-back partner. 7/10
Nathan Ake: Another strong display from Ake, proving his ability to fill in for John Stones. 7/10
Manuel Akanji: A reliable performance at left-back, contributing defensively and going forward. 6.5/10
Rodri: His usual dominant self in midfield, dictating the tempo and winning the aerial battles. 7.5/10
Kevin De Bruyne: A creative force as always, but struggled to find his usual cutting edge. 6.5/10
Bernardo Silva: A tireless worker in the middle of the park, but couldn't provide the final pass. 7/10
Jack Grealish: Lively but inconsistent, showcasing flashes of brilliance but failing to make a decisive impact. 6/10
Julian Alvarez: Came on as a substitute and brought some much-needed energy to the attack. 6.5/10
Phil Foden: Another frustrating outing for the young Englishman, who couldn't break through the Fulham defence. 6/10
A frustrating day for City:
The draw at Craven Cottage was a reminder that even the best teams can be held back by a well-organised and determined opponent. Despite the lack of goals, Man City showed their dominance in possession and created a number of chances. However, they lacked the clinical edge and were unable to break down the resolute Fulham defence.
This result will undoubtedly raise questions about City's reliance on Haaland, and Guardiola will need to find ways to unlock his team's attacking potential even when their star striker is not firing on all cylinders. The Citizens will need to regroup quickly and find their scoring boots if they want to stay in the title race.
