ROY KEANE COMPARED Erling Haaland to a “League Two player” following Manchester City’s draw with Arsenal.
City failed to score at home for the first time in 58 matches across all competitions, but it was Haaland’s general play which failed to impress Keane.
“The level of his general play is so poor and not just today,” Keane said on Sky Sports.
“I think laying his stuff off, headers, whatever it might be…. In terms of in front of goal, he’s the best in the world.
“But his general play for such a player it is so poor. Not just today, he has to improve.
“He’s almost like a League Two player, that’s how I look at him. His general play has to improve and it will do over the next few years.
“Being a brilliant striker is fantastic, but he has to improve his all-round game.”
Meanwhile, City boss Pep Guardiola says Liverpool are now favourites to win the title.
After Liverpool came from behind to beat Brighton 2-1 earlier in the day, Jurgen Klopp’s side top the table by two points from the Gunners with City in third, three points from the summit.
Guardiola’s three-time reigning champions have made a habit of putting together long winning runs late in the season to overhaul rivals in the race to finish top, but the Catalan conceded this year’s title race was not in their hands.
“Always who is first is favourite,” Guardiola said when asked if Liverpool were “clear favourites” to win the league.
“The second favourite is Arsenal and we are third…It’s not in our hands. All we can do is think of Aston Villa (at home on Wednesday). Always when we were top of the league, we were favourites. It was in our hands. Now it’s not. It’s simple.”
Arsenal kept their structure, defending deep and denying City players any space in and around the box.
Asked how to break down such a low block, Guardiola joked: “Kill someone”.
“I recognise my team, the proposals and how we pressed high,” he said. “We’ve played against a low block sometimes and Arsenal are exceptional. Well managed and the players are really good.
“You have to knock on the door of another manager and see if he can do it. As a team we’re still there. We could have more in some aspects but I’m satisfied. I told the team don’t be sad. You give credit to Arsenal for the things they do.”
Bit much
Haaland is being asked to do a different role at City with Pep. He changed City’s greatest striker when he came in Aguero. Now he’s got Haaland to solely play as he is. Goalscoring wise at the moment there ain’t many as good as him. This is a Pep thing that he seems to be doing at times.
@Leighton Cullen: I’d take Nunez over Haaland , the chaos that follows Nunez around invariably turns into goals for the team , Haaland doesn’t bring much to the party other than goals and ya he does score a lot but i don’t think he contributes much outside of that.
@Fionn Bohane: Utter spoof, Haaland levels above him.
@Adam Pitts: If you say so, I’d take Alverez over Haaland too.
@Fionn Bohane: You have got to be trolling?! Nunez over Haaland over the “chaos” he causes. Lad, first and foremost the job of a striker is to score goals, the amount of goals and finishing is of utmost importance. Everything after that is important i.e touch, passing ability, hold up play, workrate, link play etc etc…..but not your main job. Otherwise Emile Heskey would be better than Cristano Ronaldo! Nunez finishing is generally poor (his chances to conversion is dire) takes too many touches, first touch is awful and his final ball/decision making is way off. His work rate, commitment, running the channels and link play is good but he is nowhere near the number 9 Liverpool require in the long run, good option off the bench.
@John Clifford: The traditional striker role is redundant these days, Haaland has 18 goals this season and maybe 4 assists if I’m being generous.. Nunez has ten goals and 7 assists. My point is Haaland is very one dimensional and if he or foden and de Bryune don’t click then nothing works. Nunez with his tracking back, working for the team , creating opportunities for everyone else compared to Halland who’s basically goal hanging for the majority of the game. He’s a clinical finisher but that’s all he brings to the table, he doesn’t drop deep and play 30yard passes like Kane, he doesn’t pick up the ball in his own half and drive forward and lastly he doesn’t bring other’s into play and create for others.
@Fionn Bohane: Ronaldo does work hard, track back, play in others , he’s a team player but he’s better than most every time he steps onto a pitch so you can make allowances for him when he acts the primadonna.
He’s not wrong based on today’s game. Halaand hasn’t fired since coming back from injury but just out of form. Needs a spark and he’ll be flying again like early on in the season. I’d predict 10+ goals from Halaand I’m the remaining games
Haaland just not suited to City’s style. Every player on the team can work on the ball, but Haaland needs to be serviced.