Manchester City are used to winning, but their recent form has seen them endure a run of six games without a win, including five defeats in a row.
The Premier League champions suffered a blow with the loss of Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder Rodri, who suffered a cruciate ligament injury in the 2-2 draw at the Etihad with Arsenal.
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They last won a football game with a 1-0 victory over Southampton in October, but since then Tottenham Hotspur have started a run of great form – and even strengthened it.
The north London side have beaten them twice in less than a month, firstly with a 2-1 win in the EFL Cup and secondly with a 4-0 win over the champions on home soil.
Brighton, Bournemouth and Sporting Lisbon have all enjoyed victories over Man City in recent weeks, but when they led Feyenoord 3-0 in the Champions League there appeared to be light at the end of the tunnel.
However, within just fifteen minutes that light was dimmed as the Eredivisie side scored three goals of their own and Man City were left with a 3-3 draw at the final whistle.
Coach Pep Guardiola appeared after the game with scratches on his head and a cut on the bridge of his nose after appearing visibly stressed on the sidelines during the Champions League clash.
But now attention turns not just to the Liverpool game that awaits them on Sunday – as the Reds have the chance to widen an 11-point gap between themselves and City – but also to how they resolve the problems in their squad will solve.
With Rodri out this season, City need reinforcements. The Spanish midfielder gave the defense a huge defensive boost and without him the differences are huge.
Since the start of last season, Rodri has played 53 games, winning 39, drawing 13 and losing just one – the FA Cup final against Man United.
Without him, their win rate drops to 58.3 percent compared to 73.6 percent when he is on the field. Protecting the back four is an important area that City need to support come January.
The call for a new squad has never been greater at the club, but who should City turn to in January to fill Rodri’s midfield void?
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Joshua Kimmich – Bayern Munich
Estimated value: £42 million
The Bayern Munich player is often considered one of the best midfielders in the world, having won eight Bundesliga titles.
The 29-year-old Kimmich was aptly described as “a veritable Swiss Army knife of a player” early in his career and could be happy about a return under Guardiola, having spent just a year with him, during which time he won the German title and the League Cup fetched.
The German captain is a loyal player in the national team’s midfield, ensuring control from the middle and winning the ball back with aggressive intelligence.
He is in first place in the top German league when it comes to ball contacts in midfield, long-range throws, through balls and, above all, completed passes.
Another appeal of Kimmich will be his defensive abilities. With his skillfully timed tackles and his ability to win the ball, he was also occasionally used as Bayern’s right-back.
While Kimmich is likely to be a difficult deal in January, there is no doubt that he would provide much-needed cover, especially with 34-year-old Kyle Walker and the injury-prone John Stones not quite the players they were cracked up to be once a city jersey.
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Martín Zubimendi – Real Sociedad
Estimated value: £50 million
The serial winner could turn the heads of Liverpool’s goal and they need him more than ever.
In the summer, the Real Sociedad midfielder rejected a £51.5m offer from the Reds, forcing Arne Slot to assemble a stunning midfield of Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch.
Similar to his compatriot Rodri, Zubimendi is calm and composed in midfield, controlling the tempo of every game he plays in with well-executed passes.
His defensive strength and stability on the pitch draw him to be compared to Sergio Busquets, as do his finer technical ability to pick up the ball in tight spots and initiate play from deep, reminiscent of Man City legend David Silva.
City may have to dig deep into their pockets to pay for the 25-year-old, who is still attracting interest from Liverpool and was recently targeted by Arsenal as a potential alternative to Thomas Partey.
After coming through Real Sociedad’s C and then B teams, he has now played over 200 games for the San Sebastian-based team. He also appeared in the Euro 2024 final, where he came on as a substitute as Spain beat England 2-1 to lift the trophy.
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It will be a difficult decision for City to replace Rodri, a player who has been a steadfast presence in the starting XI in four Premier League title-winning seasons, but the defensive problems without his number 16 run deeper Problem made clear on the back.
Attacking strength is in abundance at the Etihad: Erling Haaland scores for fun and – when he’s on form – Phil Foden, Kevin de Bruyne, Jeremy Doku, Jack Grealish and Savinho support him.
But it’s about finding a Rodri replacement who could save City’s season if they shop wisely in January.