Manchester City managed to take a point against Arsenal last weekend after besieging the Gunners’ goal for the entire second half.
The draw keeps them top of the league but Rodri’s injury, which could keep him out for the rest of the season, could play a bigger role in the title race than Sunday’s result.
Rodri is in contention for the Ballon d’Or as he played a key role in Manchester City’s fourth consecutive Premier League triumph. The midfielder was also instrumental in Spain’s success at Euro 2024. His absence will provide a major boost to Arsenal and Liverpool as they hope to end City’s stranglehold on the title.
- Rodri’s injury could keep him out until the end of the season.
- Manchester City are averaging 0.5 points less per game without Rodri in the starting XI.
- With 89 points and a goal difference of +62 last season, Arsenal could have won the title in both the 2020/21 and 2022/23 seasons.
Odds provided by Vbet. Data correct at time of publication and subject to change.
City’s points loss without Rodri
Rodri has been at the heart of Manchester City’s midfield during what has been the most successful period in the club’s history, joining the club in 2019 from Atletico Madrid for a fee in excess of £60m. The Spaniard has won the league every season since joining the Premier League and needs his team-mates to keep him going.
Manchester City have dropped 23 points in 21 league games without Rodri since he joined the club. Pep Guardiola’s side are averaging 2.37 points per game with the virtuoso midfielder in the starting 11. That has fallen to 1.87 points per game when he has been left out. Assuming Rodri is out for the season and that rate continues, City would end the campaign with a total of 75 points. That figure would have put them in fourth place last season, 14 points behind Arsenal.
Pep is arguably the most astute tactician in world football and has an expensively assembled squad to do his job. Mateo Kovačić played as a deeper midfielder when Rodri went off against Arsenal. Guardiola may find another solution, but the injury will be a huge boost to City’s title rivals.
Arsenal and Liverpool waiting in the wings
Arsenal
The Gunners are the obvious choice to capitalise on Rodri’s injury. They have finished second to Manchester City in the last two Premier League campaigns. On Sunday, Arsenal came within a whisker of a memorable win at the Etihad, despite playing the entire second half with ten men.
Mikel Arteta’s side finished two points behind City last season. They had the best defence in the English top flight, averaging 0.76 goals per game. At 2.39 goals on average, Arsenal also scored the second most goals, and their tally of 89 points with a goal difference of +62 would have been enough to win two of the last four title races. The Gunners look well-equipped to rack up a big points haul again and Rodri’s injury could well tip the scales in their favour.
Liverpool
Liverpool are the last team apart from Manchester City to win the Premier League. Last season, the Reds were aiming for a quadruple but fatigue got the better of them in the first six weeks of the season. Jurgen Klopp has left a strong squad under Arne Slot and the Dutchman will be hoping his side can challenge for the title.
The Reds have won four of their five games, conceding just one goal. Liverpool are also the Premier League’s second-highest scorers, with an average of 2.02 per game.
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