Let's talk about SETS

HOW CITY ARE MAKING THE MOST OF DEAD BALL SITUATIONS

- JOE BRAY

WHEN Manchester City put seven past RB Leipzig, and Pep Guardiola was asked whether his side are getting better in the Champions League, he instead pointed to the clean sheet his defenders kept.

Likewise, Rico Lewis said the City dressing room were equally happy with the clean sheet in the rout of Burnley four days later, with the Blues aware that keeping goals out is just as important at this stage of the season as the goals they are firing in at the other end of the pitch.

In City's 10-game unbeaten run that has kept them alive in three competitions, they have kept five clean sheets and conceded just five.

They've also shown how being better at 'guaranteed' situations like set plays can turn tight games in your favour and away from an opponent.

Before the World Cup, City conceded four of their 14 goals against from set pieces, at a rate of one every five games.

Since the World Cup, they have conceded just two of 16 goals against in 21 games, at one every ten games.