What is the reason for City's midwinter slump?

Pep Guardiola’ side have issues with injuries and form and need big players to step uptoturn the ship around

- Jamie Jackson

Rodriis labouring after injury At Bodg/Glimt, ina first Champions League outing since 1 October, the 29-year-old appeared what he is: aplayer still recovering after 18 months out witha serious knee injury and several related setbacks.

This was only a third start since his latest return began with the second 45 minutes of the goalless draw at Sunderland on New Year’s Day. Last week Rodri declared he was “ready to go” and said: “I’m really happy to be on the pitch every single day.” Yet in Saturday’s 2-0 loss at Manchester United he was unable to do what he did with ease pre-anterior cruciate ligament rupture: run midfield and also the contest. In Tuesday’s 3-1 humbling in Norway the Spaniard was the same, and two moments tell the tale of his form. First Jens Petter Hauge left him like a statue before registering a memorable long-range strike for Bodo’s third goal; then came the two yellow cards in two minutes that ended Rodri’s night.

Haaland hit by scoring struggles You have to go back a full month for the last time Erling Haaland netted other than from the penalty spot, with two goals at West Ham in Manchester City’s 3-0 win.

His sole strike in eight games since was in the 1-1 draw against Brighton on 7 January, the goalglutton somehow failing to register even when Exeter were givena 10-1 beating in the FA Cup third round. After the Boda defeat he was asked about the fallow run.