What’s Hot and What’s Not from Manchester City’s season so far

NOT – Defensively questionable

For all of City’s excellent attacking endeavour this term, their tally of 51 Premier League goals is only three less than top-scorers Arsenal and Liverpool, they have been very suspect defensively.

The Manchester club spent £47.5 million on England international John Stones in the summer, and he hasn’t really shown many defensive qualities this season, even if he does play the way Guardiola wants, while the ageing full-backs of Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, and Pablo Zabaleta have been far from reliable.

The goalkeeping situation remains unsolved, with Claudio Bravo brought in because he can use his feet, neglecting the fact that he’s not a great shot-stopper, while Willy Caballero is a better shot-stopper, but has seriously struggled with the ball on the floor.

Aleksandar Kolarov has never been a great defender and his lack of pace has been exploited too often, while Nicolas Otamendi has arguably been better than last season, but is still not dependable enough at the back.

The three goals they shipped against Monaco on Wednesday were indicative of their defensive struggles and, although they compensated by netting five, that will not always happen, and instead the backline will have to occasionally bail out the front men.