Since Rodri limped off against Arsenal, with a seasonending cruciate ligament injury, they have dropped four. A 100 per cent start to the defence of their title has given way to backto-back draws. Rodri famously never loses but the most pertinent part of his record may be how often he wins.
And City normally beat Newcastle United, just as Pep Guardiola invariably triumphs against Eddie Howe. Not this time. Just Howe’s second point against his City counterpart was secured by Anthony Gordon’s penalty.
It is impossible to prove that the Spaniard would have stopped Bruno Guimaraes from supplying the defence-splitting pass that led to it, but tempting to wonder anyway. Rodri can appear omnipotent when present; the loss of the man Guardiola deems the world’s best in his position means many a shortcoming could be attributed to his absence.
Certainly, when Mateo Kovacic was booked for a desperate challenge as Gordon led a 90th-minute break, it was a reminder that Rodri is far superior at protecting a defence. But as, for the first time in 15 league games, City failed to score at least twice, they missed his incision in possession as well.
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