Riyad Mahrez was hooked in the second half of Manchester City’s 4-2 win over Crystal Palace, coming off at the hour mark when the Sky Blues were 2-1 down. A minute later, they’d equalised.
City would go on to take all the points while Mahrez stewed on the bench, so Pep Guardiola must be wondering what’s happened to him this season. The 31-year-old hasn’t contributed a goal and isn’t playing well, so his place in the starting lineup may be in jeopardy.
Where will Manchester City finish in the Premier League this season?
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th or lower
Mahrez wasn’t close to leaving, but Guardiola had little choice but to keep him after Gabriel Jesus joined Arsenal and Raheem Sterling joined Chelsea. He may regret backing the Algerian international, however, as he’s failed to score or make an assist after four appearances in all competitions.
Mahrez amassed 58 minutes in the Community Shield defeat to Liverpool, two minutes from the bench in the 2-0 win over West Ham, played a full 90 minutes in the 4-0 win over Bournemouth, was an unused substitute in the 3-3 draw with Newcastle United and played for 61 minutes against Palace.
Guardiola has rotated Mahrez due to his poor form, but it’s not led to him firing. So will the former Leicester wide-man lose his place again?
In other news, Kevin De Bruyne is one reason why Erling Haaland will thrive at Manchester City
Our Rodney was hooked for tactical reasons, so we went 3 at the back He will come good, class is permanent.
you are not a journalist, your actually a troll, dreadful dreadful stuff.
Will do my best to avoid your nonsense going forward
You forgot his other statistic, from an attacking position out wide on the right, moving slightly infield and then passing back to a centre half 9536 times