The Football Faithful
·28 December 2023
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Yahoo sportsThe Football Faithful
·28 December 2023
Nathan Ake has been a dependable defensive option for Manchester City in recent months, with the Dutch defender spending time both centrally and at full-back.
Ake is currently on a 13-game run without being on the losing side for the Citizens, having last suffered defeat during the 1-0 reverse at Arsenal in early October.
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Virgil van Dijk is also on a run of 13 games without losing, as part of a Liverpool team who have been beaten just once in their opening 19 games of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.
Van Dijk’s fine form has been behind Liverpool’s impressive start to the campaign, with the Reds’ sole defeat coming against Tottenham on September 30. That fixture saw Jurgen Klopp’s team reduced to nine men in North London, as Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota were sent off in a chaotic clash.
The Liverpool captain has been rested for much of the club’s Europa League campaign to date, featuring just once in Europe, and missing defeats to Toulouse and Union Saint-Gilloise.
Jack Grealish has failed to hit the heights of last season during the current campaign, but is 14 games without defeat for Manchester City.
Grealish last ended up on the losing side against Wolves on September 30, having been an unused substitute during City’s defeat at Arsenal in their following game. The England winger also missed the 1-0 defeat at former club Aston Villa earlier this month through suspension.
Manchester City’s creative catalyst has been missing for much of the 2023/24 season, with Kevin De Bruyne having not featured since the opening weekend of the Premier League season.
You have to go all the way back to February 5th for the last time De Bruyne was part of a losing effort for the Premier League champions, as a Harry Kane goal condemned Pep Guardiola’s team to a 1-0 loss at Tottenham. Kane’s goal was also his 267th for Spurs, breaking Jimmy Greaves’ club record.
Rodri’s last defeat also came during that same game, but the Spanish midfielder’s greater availability this season means his record has now stretched to 48 games without defeat for Manchester City.
Rodri’s remarkable run is approaching an entire year, such has been his pivotal role in the success of Pep Guardiola’s side. Since last losing a competitive game, Rodri has won the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup with the Citizens.
The 27-year-old’s goal was the decisive moment as City were crowned European champions for the first time after beating Inter Milan 1-0 in Istanbul in May.
He was recognised with the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year award for 2022/23, and also claimed the Club World Cup Golden Ball this month as City beat Fluminense to win the inter-continental tournament.
Rodri’s incredible influence is perhaps best felt when he is not in the side. This season, the Spanish star has missed four games through card-related suspensions. City, in his absence, have lost all four games.
Arguably, the most irreplaceable player in the Premier League right now.