Manchester City were given a helping hand in their 3-0 win at Liverpool on Sunday.
Jeremy Doku’s second-half introduction saw the balance of play switch in their favour. Ryan Gravenberch’s red card on the hour mark effectively ended the tie as a contest.
Erling Haaland scored City’s opener shortly after Gravenberch’s dismissal. Doku bagged his first and his side’s second three minutes after Haaland’s sixth league goal of the season. Rayan Cherki compounded a miserable afternoon for the Reds in the 78th-minute. Last we checked, Jeremie Frimpong was still sliding across the Anfield turf having been sat down by the Frenchman.
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Off field matters may have distracted City. They have appealed the Premier League’s guilty verdict over a number of serious financial breaches between 2008 and 2019. However, they’re getting the business done on the pitch. Sunday’s 3-0 win over Liverpool made it six wins from six. They’re the only side with a 100% record in England’s top tier this term.
It’s quite the start for the 2026/27 title contenders, and a far cry from the 2026 Community Shield as they crashed to a 3-0 loss to Arsenal in Cardiff. The result came after a period of change for the club. Enzo Maresca replaced Pep Guardiola. John Stones, Bernardo Silva and Rodri all left for Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively. Out with the old and in with the new.
Anderson’s early season impact
Key, though, was finding the right replacement for Rodri. They did have Nico Gonzalez on the books prior to his Newcastle United switch, the Spaniard stepping in well in the absence of his compatriot following his arrival from FC Porto. However, it’s new signing Elliot Anderson who has carried out the impossible and filled the void left by Rodri’s departure.
The former Nottingham Forest man enjoyed a whirlwind 12 months for both club and country. Indeed, his performances for Forest saw him handed his England debut last year. He’s now one of the first names on the teamsheet for the Three Lions.
At club level, Anderson’s showings in the middle of the park attracted interest from England’s elite sides. Despite Forest’s rollercoaster season, Anderson was a consistent force in midfield, and he was duly rewarded with a nine-figure move to the Etihad Stadium. The sole purpose was to succeed Rodri in the middle of the park. They were big boots to fill, and then some. Despite his recent injury and fitness issues, Rodri is the standard bearer for midfield orchestrators.
In the opening weeks of his time in Manchester, Anderson has looked more than capable of stepping into the breach. City sit top for possession (64%) in the Premier League this season, with the England star the heartbeat of the team. Indeed, he’s made more passes (522) than any other player in England’s top tier this term.
Difference between Rodri and Anderson
There is arguably room for improvement in terms of his overall distribution. A 90% pass accuracy does rank below other midfielders, including Kobbie Mainoo (93.7%), James Garner (91.8%) and Declan Rice (90.5%). Conversely, Anderson has gone from a team that implements a more reactive approach to one that dominates. There was always going to be a slight adjustment period.
What does stand out is the difference in which both Rodri and Anderson hunt down possession. The Spaniard relies more on the cerebral approach to denying opponents, utilising his impressive reading of the game and positional awareness to minimise the pressure on his side’s goal. By comparison, Anderson is more all-action. He eats up ground, and this approach means he places among the top 15 players for tackles (14). The England star ranks top for ground duels won (40).
Adaptability key for Maresca
The versatility to his game – Anderson is able to operate as both a number 6 and a number 8 – enables him to mix up his style during matches, which suits Maresca’s City side. It helps City quickly spring forward when they do win the ball, evident in that Anderson is averaging more line-breaking passes per 90 (22.7) than any other Premier League midfielder this season.
Rather than look to play safe passes for the sake of retaining possession, Anderson’s inclination is to look forward. It would go some way to explaining why his pass accuracy is also lower than other central midfielders.
It’s been a period of change at the Etihad Stadium. There is still off-pitch uncertainty engulfing the club as they wait to hear whether their appeal is successful, or what punishments will be dished out. Where it matters most, on the pitch, they are thriving, and Anderson is at the centre of their sprint-start to life under Maresca.