John Giles joined Richie McCormack on The Football Show to discuss Manchester City and Liverpool.
Manchester City fundamentally altered their identity when they signed Erling Haaland.
They are a more dangerous team because of Haaland's presence, but they will no longer play with six midfielders. Haaland will need to work from the front but his positioning will always keep him higher upfield.
Manchester City aren't used to playing with someone that high upfield all the time. Even Gabriel Jesus was shifted to the wing when he played last year.
"They didn't have an out-and-out center forward last year, Manchester City," Giles said.
"Funny enough, they had an amazing league [campaign] last season. They actually scored four or five more goals than Liverpool without a recognized center forward, which was amazing. So Haaland will score goals for them, but I just wondered if they're going to do as well in the middle of the field."
Haaland is a striker who will lead the line. He runs in behind defences and acts as a spearhead between the posts. With him in the team, Manchester City no longer have a six person midfield axis that allows them to control the game.
They'll still control the game to some degree but they will have less possession because there will be less of a crowd in the middle of the field.
Haaland's presence will change how his new Manchester City teammates fit into the team also.
"Grealish hasn't hit it off really. Mahrez maybe [better], but they're both playing as wingers and I don't see them taking players on. Particularly Grealish. He wasn't a winger for Villa, he was more a left-sided midfield player.
"When they get into certain positions, where Grealish should be taking players on, they stop turn around and pass back to start all over again.
"I think Liverpool are more dangerous this season than they were last season because of the signings they made."
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