Outside of Erling Haaland the lack of another goal threat is hindering Manchester City | OneFootball

In a statement, you’d barely have thought you’d say Manchester City look one dimensional in attack. If Erling Haaland doesn’t score Pep Guardiola’s side looks short of goals. Given the quality throughout the world champions squad, you wouldn’t think that would be an issue. But across City’s four consecutive defeats, their lack of another goal threat is beginning to hinder the champions. It’s becoming apparent that it’s Erling Haaland or bust for Manchester City currently.

A look at Manchester City’s top scorers for this season highlights the issue at hand. In all competitions, Erling Haaland has scored 15 goals. Phil Foden, Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol are City’s next top scorers with 3 goals this season. Although Foden hasn’t scored in the Premier League this season. The lack of a consistent goal threat outside of Haaland is hindering Manchester City. That is becoming clear to see with every game Pep Guardiola’s squad plays. It has been especially clear during Manchester City’s current four-game losing streak.

Against Sporting and Brighton Manchester City squandered several good chances in the first half of both games. It must be said, especially against Sporting, Erling Haaland was the guilty party of squandering gilt-edged chances. If they put their chances away in the first half of both games perhaps they don’t lose either game. So City’s wastefulness in front of goal is costing them. It does however pose another question.

When Haaland’s supply dries up where do City’s goals come from? With the sale of Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid Pep Guardiola’s squad is short a striker. A look at the Manchester City squad shows that there is a distinct lack of another goal scorer. Phil Foden at his best supplies goals. He has done that all throughout his career. But so far this season he is yet to return to his best. Ilkay Gundogan was famous for his late runs into the box and ability to score goals. That has also eluded him so far this season. Kevin De Bruyne can also add goals from midfield but a groin injury has stifled his season to date.

Savinho and Jeremy Doku both dazzle on the ball but are wasteful in front of goal. They both should improve in time, but that doesn’t help right now. Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva have never been prolific goal scorers during their time at Manchester City. The loss of Rodri to a season ending knee injury has also cost City goals from midfield. The more you look at Manchester City’s squad the more you see that outside of Erling Haaland there isn’t another consistent goal scoring threat.

That is hindering Manchester City currently. It can’t be Erling Haaland or bust. That isn’t sustainable. But the answer as to how Pep Guardiola solves that particular issue doesn’t jump off the page just yet. Perhaps it is a matter of City having the majority of their squad fully fit. That way they’ll have fresh legs to make the runs into the box that City have profited from in season’s past. But the lack of another goal scorer is hindering Manchester City. The solution to the problem isn’t immediately apparent on closer inspection either.