It seems strange to ask this, but has Erling Haaland made Manchester City weaker?
The Norwegian striker has set records since joining The Citizens earlier this season, scoring 21 times in only 16 English Premier League appearances.
He is on course to break the record for the most goals in a 38-game season – against Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah’s 32 in 2017-2018.
He can also break the record of 34 goals – from a 42-game season – set by Manchester United’s Andy Cole (1993-94) and Blackburn’s Alan Shearer (1994-95).
Argentine Sergio Aguero holds the record for the most goals in a Premier League season by a Manchester City player, with 26 goals in 2014-15.
But unless City retains the league title and goes on to win the Champions League, questions remain as to whether Haaland is a good fit.
There is a feeling that Haaland has not made City better, particularly after it fell to a surprising 2-0 defeat to Southampton in the League Cup quarterfinals on Thursday morning.
Most pundits agree that City has lost some swagger this season.
City is second in the table, five points behind Arsenal that has 44 points from 17 matches and faces neighbour Manchester United tomorrow (8.30pm).
Haaland can silence his doubters against United and help guide City close the gap on Arsenal.
United is fourth in the table and is on a run of four consecutive league wins. It hopes to continue its good form by avenging its 6-3 defeat to City in October.
Separately, Arsenal visits North London neighbour Tottenham on Monday (12.30am).
Tottenham Hotspur has lost two of its last five matches to lose ground on Arsenal. It has 33 points, having played 18 matches.
Antonio Conte is under pressure to get a top-four slot, and he would like nothing better than to stop Arsenal from racing away with the title.
In other matches, third-placed Newcastle hosts Fulham on Sunday (10pm), and sixth-placed Liverpool is away to Brighton tomorrow (11pm).
FIXTURES (Malaysian time)
SATURDAY
Aston Villa vs Leeds (4am)
Manchester United vs Manchester City (8.30pm)
Wolves vs West Ham (11pm)
Nottingham Forest vs Leicester (11pm)
Brighton vs Liverpool (11pm)
Everton vs Southampton (11pm)
SUNDAY
Brentford vs Bournemouth (1.30am)
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace (10pm)
Newcastle vs Fulham (10pm)
MONDAY
Tottenham vs Arsenal (12.30am)
