Guardiola’s contract situation still lingers, as does a possible points deduction should Man City be found guilty of Profit & Sustainability Rules breaches that they vehemently deny. Those are two pretty emphatic-looking endings on the horizon, but beyond that is a squad looking increasingly lopsided and old.

Rodri's injury and subsequent recommendation have injected significant drama into Manchester City's January transfer plans. His influence, even from the sidelines, highlights his importance to the team and sets the stage for a potentially pivotal transfer battle to address their midfield crisis.

Joao Pedro produced a goal and an assist off the bench as Brighton overcame Erling Haaland's 12th goal of the Premier League season to beat Manchester City at the Amex Stadium.