IF you had been told in advance City would sign a striker in the summer who would score 21 goals in his first 15 Premier League games, the only question to ponder would be how close they were to winning the title.
Instead, the Blues have added the one missing piece to the wonderfully constructed jigsaw, but now found the edges fraying.
Erling Haaland has fulfilled his end of the bargain, but City have dropped points in five of their 16 league games so far, including at home to Brentford and Everton in their two most recent outings at the Etihad.
They are eight points behind Arsenal at the top and while that gap will shrink to five with at a win Chelsea tonight, there are elements of City's current form that will be a little concerning to Pep Guardiola.
There are excellent performances in there, such as against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup and at Elland Road last week, but also some flat and uninspiring displays.
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