HAARD TO TAKE

Striker Erling looks shadow of his former self after having penalty saved by Pickford

- DAVID MCDONNELL

ERLING HAALAND said he was to blame after Manchester City's last defeat, just prior to Christmas.

Here, the City striker was entirely culpable, missing from the penalty spot, then watching his header from the rebound ruled out for offside.

While City's current crisis cannot be put squarely on the shoulders of one man, no player embodies the malaise more than Haaland.

He looks a shadow of the imperious forward who plundered 90 goals in his first two seasons.

Haaland has just one goal in his last seven Premier League games and, when he is not scoring, City have few other options to find the net - a damning indictment of such a talented and expensively assembled squad.

They were without eight key men, including No.1 keeper Ederson, defensive trio Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias and John Stones, as well as long-term absentee Rodri.

But those enforced absences cannot be used as mitigation for another blunt display from the fallen champions, who were once again devoid of their usual swagger and cutting edge.