Man City set yet another goal scoring record – but defensive frailties still nag away

When a team equals a goalscoring record that has endured for 125 years, it seems almost churlish to question their weakness.

For Manchester City though, it is not the goals-for column that will ever be the question. They have scored 27 already in just seven dazzling Premier League matches – matching a mark set by Everton back in 1894.

These days, those exploits are almost mundane for this incredible team. Yet there is a question which does nag at them, which gnawed even at their impressive victory on Merseyside.

It is a rare weakness which dominated Everton’s planning in the build up to the game, a defensive vulnerability that was rarely evident during their previous two imperious marches to the title.

“We had worked on our plans in the week for the way City would play and how we could try to exploit that,” Richarlison explained afterwards. “We did think they were vulnerable, absolutely. No doubt about it.“

Everton did exploit it. Frequently. They had more shots on target than any team against City since November 2015.

On another afternoon they would have got something from this game, with visiting keeper Ederson the man of the match as he produced three world class saves.

Marco Silva had spent all week devising ways to exploit the defensive issues the champions clearly have, trying to get into the space outside a narrow back line that often became a three.

He wanted Theo Walcott and Richarlison to do that. Surprise selection Walcott disappeared early with a head injury, upsetting the carefully laid plans, but the Brazilian still implemented them willingly.

“We wanted to take the game to them and felt we could – that is what Marco Silva asked of us, to try to put them under pressure because of that (defensive weakness),” he said afterwards.

“We worked in training on that, but unfortunately, Ederson put in a spectacular performance, he made three outstanding saves, and I guess that’s football – our plan almost worked, we just didn’t get the break this time, but we created the chances we thought we could.”

Those saves were crucial. One, to deny Yerry Mina’s header from close range just sensational, while he also denied Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Two of those saves came when the game was level after Jesus opened the scoring following fine work from Mahrez and De Bruyne, before Calvert-Lewin replied as Coleman exploited the space Silva identified.

Eventually, Mahrez’s free kick somehow sneaked past the lethargic dive of Jordan Pickford to give City the points confirmed by Raheem Sterling’s late third. But still those questions nagged.

City were all over the place at set pieces, conceding so many chances. And despite his protestations afterwards, Pep Guardiola displayed a hint of gnawing worry.

Asked if opponents are targeting his side in the air, he replied: “They can do it. If they have Calvert-Lewin’s skills, Richarlison’s skills, they can do it. There are a few teams using it, we adapt it.

“I think when you win two Premier Leagues you face different styles, it’s not just all the same. We knew it. Up front Calvert-Lewin is one of best headers I’ve seen jumping and flicking the ball. Richarlison is strong, so we know it.”

So, now, do their opponents…which could yet make the title race interesting.