Manchester City attacker Julian Alvarez has been one of Pep Guardiola’s most important players this season – but it’s possible he could now have a very different second half of the season.
City have made a perfect start to 2024, winning all four of their games so far across all competitions.
The team’s form since the Club World Cup has been brilliant and that is very encouraging, with supporters hopeful of seeing another long run.
City are currently five points behind leaders Liverpool, which could extend to eight if the Reds beat Arsenal today. But City would then have two games in hand on Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Julian Alvarez has certainly played his part in helping City not lose sight of Liverpool, scoring 15 goals and making 10 assists.
But it may well be that this hugely influential player is now set to spend a lot of time on the bench in the coming weeks…
Julian Alvarez set for more time on the bench as key players return for Manchester City
It seems crazy to suggest that a player with 25 goal contributions could be spending more time on the bench.
But unfortunately for Alvarez, two truly outstanding footballers are now back available for Manchester City.
The irrepressible Kevin De Bruyne came early back last month, and the Belgian’s injury absence had been one of the main reasons why Alvarez was able to feature so heavily.
The Argentine played a number of matches as an advanced midfielder, alongside Phil Foden, and the 24-year-old did a fairly decent job playing in behind Erling Haaland.
But Alvarez is not Kevin De Bruyne, and the City talisman will now take back his place in the starting XI. Pep Guardiola may not be using him every single game, just to be cautious, but the Belgian king will be a prominent feature no doubt now that he is back.
You’ve then got Erling Haaland, who was out for a couple of months in the end with a foot injury.
While he was on the sidelines, £100,000-a-week star Alvarez led the line and did a great job.
But again, Haaland is an incredible goalscorer and is going to play every game he’s available for.
Phil Foden form also an issue for Julian Alvarez
Not only does Alvarez have De Bruyne and Haaland coming back in, Phil Foden is in the form of his life in a central role.
The England international has been absolutely superb in the middle while De Bruyne has been out, and you cannot see Guardiola choosing to play Alvarez there over him. Foden can play wide of course, but Pep also has the likes of Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku, Bernardo Silva and Oscar Bobb as other options.
It’s also not too likely we’ll see Alvarez in the wide positions, as he has never really operated on the flanks since his arrival at the club.
Thanks to De Bruyne, Haaland and Foden, it’s very possible we will be seeing a lot less of Alvarez in the second half of the season compared to the first.
There obviously could be more injuries, but Alvarez – as ‘extraordinary’ as he has been – may have to be patient at times during the run-in.
