Erling Haaland up but Riyad Mahrez down — Man City winners and losers so far this season

It’s been a great start to the season for Manchester City but there have been some losers as well as winners.

Though there have been some dropped points to sides that they would normally be expected to beat, as well as a couple of scares after going behind, City are sitting pretty without a loss to their name in all competitions. They look a pretty good bet to retain their Premier League crown once again.

Pep Guardiola has done a great job so far in getting his new players settled quickly. The Blues boss has never really faced the task of rebuilding teams at any of his previous clubs, but you wouldn’t be able to tell with how smoothly things have gone so far. Four key men that played crucial roles in the club’s recent success left in the summer with six new faces coming in. Other clubs have certainly suffered disruption from so much change.

Also read: Fernandinho has helped Ilkay Gundogan this year with Man City captaincy

It helps that one of the newcomers was Erling Haaland, who has taken to England with complete ease and is by far and away the biggest winner of the season so far. The Norwegian has quickly but any contrarian doubts that he might not adapt to the Premier League to bed by hammering in 10 goals in just six matches.

With an additional two goals in a single Champions League outing, a £50million fee for Haaland isn’t just looking like a bargain but the heist of the century. Another newcomer who adapted to life at City remarkably well is Julian Alvarez.

The 22-year-old has come to a different continent, but has seamlessly fitted into the first team and looks right at home in English football. Alvarez has been lively whenever he has come off the bench and scored a brilliant brace on his one start to date. He is certain to get more opportunities as the season goes on but he’s already made a great first impression.

SEVILLA, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 6: Erling Haaland of Manchester City scores the third goal 0-3 and celebrates with Ilkay Gundogan of Manchester City during the UEFA Champions League match between Sevilla v Manchester City at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on September 6, 2022 in Sevilla Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)

Another big winner in the opening few weeks has been Ilkay Gundogan. In May there were rumblings that he may leave the Etihad but he soon made it clear he would be staying and now he has been appointed the new captain following Fernandinho’s departure. The German has had an excellent start to the campaign, with two goals and an assist, and looks to be developing a deadly partnership with Haaland.

Bernardo Silva looked likelier to leave Manchester this past summer, with it being known he wants to return to mainland Europe and Barcelona being interested. But no offer was forthcoming so he once again had to stay but he hasn’t let that disappointment disrupt his game. Not in the slightest.

After returning to the starting XI following the conclusion of the transfer speculation, Bernardo has been as fantastic as ever, with two crucial goals to help rescue points and two assists so far.

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There have been some losers as well at the beginning of the campaign and the biggest is probably Riyad Mahrez. The Algerian finished last season as City’s top scorer but he has struggled to recapture that form, with no goal contributions at all to his name as of yet. His displays haven’t been good either, which is why he has only started twice.

Things haven’t gone to plan for Kalvin Phillips since his move from Leeds as he’s yet to start for the club. That’s largely due to misfortune as he’s suffered a couple of injury setbacks, but he hasn’t been able to dislodge Rodri when he has been available. Kyle Walker has also been off his high standards and is now facing a spell on the sidelines.

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