Frank Lampard says Man City have no replacement for Vincent Kompany
Saturday 21 November 2015 22:25, UK
Manchester City's 4-1 loss to Liverpool has again emphasised their over-reliance on a core of key players, according to Sky Sports guest pundit Frank Lampard.
Manuel Pellegrini's side were without influential captain Vincent Kompany with a calf injury and playmaker David Silva, who damaged his ankle playing for Spain last month, for the visit of the Reds.
And City appeared to badly missed the duo at the Etihad - especially in a first half which saw the visitors lead 3-0 just past the half-hour mark.
Lampard feels Kompany's absence in particular played a big part in his former club's lethargic start on Saturday Night Football.
"City were nowhere near their best, that was apparent from the first 10 minutes when they were off the pace slightly," said Lampard, who scored eight goals in 38 games for City in the 2014-15 season.
"They have got two centre-halves in there who are not used to playing together, they are missing their captain, and that became apparent very quickly.
"We have all had bad games and when those first couple of passes go astray and then they are running at defenders and they are all over the shop, it is very hard to get that back, particularly when Liverpool keep the pressure on.
"They have to wipe it from their memory, because there is nothing good about it. And the good fact is they are still in the title race, as you can see from the table.
"I do not think that it changes, though, a few fundamental problems they still have - when Vincent Kompany does not play, you can see that they struggle at the back."
As well as Kompany, Lampard thinks City are too dependent on Yaya Toure producing his best form in midfield.
"Yaya Toure is a massive player for the club, but when he is not at his best, I think it is a problem for them," he said. "Do you play him as a two, or more advanced?"
Meanwhile, Lampard also worries how City will win games going forward when both Silva and Sergio Aguero are injured - the latter was making his first start on Saturday after missing the last five weeks with a hamstring injury picked up playing for Argentina.
However, the striker had to be substituted after 66 minutes, despite scoring the home team's only goal with a brilliant individual strike just before half-time.
"David Silva is not fit and he is massive for them, there is an over-reliance on Aguero - he is one of the best strikers in the world, but when he is not there, you do wonder where they will pick up the points," he added.
However, despite conceding four goals at home in the Premier League for the first time since 2003, Lampard still believes City will win the title this season, as long as they rectify these problems.
"If they can sort out two or three of those issues, then I think they will be alright, and I still fancy them to win the league," Lampard said. "But if they do not, then they are going to have days like this again."
The one bright spot though for City on a night of disappointments came with Kevin De Bruyne's impressive display, according to Lampard.
There is an over-reliance on Aguero - he is one of the best strikers in the world, but when he is not there, you do wonder where they will pick up the points
"Kevin De Bruyne was fantastic today, one of the best performances I have ever seen from a player on the end of a 4-1 loss," he said.
"He has been brilliant since he has been here, he is a breath of fresh air, his energy, the way he plays, his decision making, crossing, every time he gets the ball out wide, he gets his cross across the face of goal.
"I do not want to be too negative here as this is a game they just have to forget and I think there are bright sparks for City everywhere. They have a very talented team, De Bruyne was absolutely fantastic and did not deserve to be on the losing team."
