Manchester City beat Crystal Palace 4-2 on Saturday afternoon but conceded their fifth goal in two games and didn’t have a recognised centre-back on the bench due to Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake being injured.
Pep Guardiola instead named young fullback Rico Lewis and defensive-midfielder Claudio Gomes as cover, but he’ll need a more viable solution in case of an emergency if he won’t sign a defender before the summer transfer window shuts.
Should Pep Guardiola use Kalvin Phillips as a makeshift centre-back?
Yes
No
Kalvin Phillips was signed from Leeds United to compete with Rodri for a starting place, but Vital Man City predicted that he might play in defence on occasion like Fabian Delph did years ago.
Alan Hutton recently admitted to Football Insider that it’s “possible” Guardiola does exactly that with Phillips. It’s easy to forget the City manager experimented in pre-season too, using Phillips as a makeshift centre-back in July’s friendly win over Club America, so it might be in his thoughts.
At this point, Phillips would play anywhere just to get some minutes on the pitch. The England international has made one appearance in all competitions this season, amassing just one minute of playing time due to spending the majority of the campaign on the sidelines.
Would he be a good option in defence, however?
In other news, Pep Guardiola gives injury update on Nathan Ake
Hi Crippy did you know Liverpool have conceded as many goals as City. Fact. That is Liverpool with VVD. Also City and Liverpool have same goal difference despite Liverpool beating Bournemouth nine nil. Fact.
All the best lad. Keep the articles coming.