Premier League Talking Points: Maybe Man City are better off without You Know Who...

City looked a sharper, much better functioning, more cohesive team without Erling Haaland

WITH OR WITHOUT? Manchester City's Erling Haaland. Pic: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.

Are Man City better without Haaland?

The games between Manchester City and Liverpool are rarely anything but absorbing and Saturday didn't disappoint in the first half. Liverpool took the lead and their tactic was simple enough; absorb pressure and score via direct counterattacking. The trouble with this idea is that they are not defensively good enough. While you’d back them to score, you’d back them to let in plenty too. So when they took the lead via Mo Salah, surely no-one expected the Reds to keep City out. At 1-1 and with the game getting more heated - Rodri should’ve been sent off for a second yellow - it was a battle between the Reds exploiting City’s high line and Liverpool's ability to stop City from scoring. There was only going to be one outcome.