Manchester City’s New Chapter: Haaland and Marmoush as the Next Aguero and Dzeko?

In the relentless churn of the Premier League title race, where champions Liverpool and league-leaders Arsenal command significant attention, one perennial contender often lurks in the shadows, ready to strike: Manchester City. Despite their recent dethroning from a historic four-in-a-row winning streak, Pep Guardiola`s squad remains a formidable force. Their recent 1-0 victory over Brentford, clinched, as if by divine footballing decree, by Erling Haaland, underscored both their potency and a curious dependency.

Haaland’s numbers are, frankly, beyond belief. The Norwegian goal-machine has accounted for a staggering 12 of Manchester City`s 19 goals across the Premier League and Champions League this season – a jaw-dropping 63%. This single-minded devotion to goal-scoring extends to his international duties, where he recently bagged a hat-trick for Norway, albeit with the unusual footnote of missing two penalties. This individual brilliance raises a crucial question for City: Is such heavy reliance on one player sustainable, or is Guardiola subtly orchestrating a new, unstoppable attacking duo, one that can rival the Etihad`s most legendary partnerships?

Recalling City`s Golden Age of Strike Partnerships

Since the transformative takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, Manchester City fans have been spoilt with a procession of world-class strikers. Yet, the concept of a truly symbiotic strike partnership, where two forwards consistently combine to devastating effect, holds a special place in the club`s folklore. The name that echoes loudest in this discussion is, of course, Sergio Agüero.

Sergio Aguero, Manchester City`s all-time top scorer.

Agüero, City`s all-time record scorer with 260 goals, was a master of forming deadly combinations. While his partnerships with dynamic wingers like Raheem Sterling yielded immense goal tallies (57 goals in 2018/19), the quintessential strike partnership often points to his era with Edin Džeko. In the 2013/14 season under Manuel Pellegrini, this duo netted 54 goals between them, forming the spearhead of a team that scored an incredible 102 league goals and 156 overall, securing both the Premier League title and the League Cup. Džeko, with his aerial prowess, robust hold-up play, and clinical finishing, perfectly complemented Agüero`s agility, explosive pace, and predatory instincts. It was a partnership built on contrasting yet complementary strengths.

While Haaland`s individual goal tally of 52 in his first season dwarfs these collective numbers, it underscores the very point: the reliance is almost total. So, as history often repeats itself in football, who could emerge as Haaland`s Džeko, the complementary force that elevates City`s attack from merely formidable to truly unstoppable?

The Next Great Strike Partnership: Enter Omar Marmoush

Erling Haaland`s incredible goal-scoring figures for Manchester City.

The solution to Guardiola`s potential over-reliance on Haaland might be closer than many think, returning from an unexpected absence. Omar Marmoush, the Egyptian forward who joined City from Eintracht Frankfurt in January for a substantial £59m, is poised to make his return. Sidelined since September due to a knee ligament injury picked up during an international break, Marmoush is expected to be back on the pitch soon, potentially even featuring in the upcoming clash against Everton.

Omar Marmoush, the Egyptian forward, returning from injury.

Marmoush`s impact, though brief, was undeniable. Before his mid-season switch, he had bagged 15 goals in just 17 Bundesliga appearances, a tally surpassed by only five players by the end of the campaign, despite his early departure. Upon arriving at the Etihad, he continued his impressive form, adding eight more goals, including a memorable hat-trick against Newcastle and a contender for Premier League goal of the season against Bournemouth. His declaration upon signing, that he hoped he and Haaland would “enjoy playing together,” wasn`t just hopeful rhetoric – there were indeed positive early signs of a burgeoning partnership.

A Tactical Wildcard for Pep Guardiola

Football analysts, such as Mustapha Hassan of Total Football Analysis, have already identified the potential of this pairing. Hassan notes that having both Haaland and Marmoush at his disposal presents Guardiola with a “tactical wildcard.” Marmoush`s key attributes lie in his versatility and exceptional off-ball movement. While Haaland remains the undeniable focal point, the gravitational center of City`s attack, Marmoush offers a dynamic presence that can operate across the front line, drift into channels, and exploit the spaces created by Haaland`s presence. He`s not merely another goalscorer; he`s a highly intelligent attacker capable of both scoring and creating opportunities.

This potential synergy is crucial. Whereas Phil Foden, City`s second-highest scorer last season (with 13 goals, including three at the Club World Cup) and this season (with multiple goals against Manchester United and Huddersfield), operates more as an attacking midfielder or wide forward, Marmoush brings a more direct, central forward threat alongside Haaland. This dual threat could alleviate the pressure on Haaland, making City`s attack less predictable and significantly more robust.

Phil Foden provides another attacking option for City.

The truth is, even for a player as statistically outrageous as Haaland, a team cannot solely rely on one individual to score all the goals, all the time, forever. Injuries, fatigue, or even a momentary dip in form are inevitable in the unforgiving world of professional football. Thus, Marmoush`s return could provide an under-the-radar yet absolutely massive boost to Manchester City`s Premier League title aspirations.

With upcoming league fixtures against Everton (H), Aston Villa (A), and Bournemouth (H) – all highly winnable encounters – before the titanic clash with Liverpool on November 9th, the stage is set. Will Pep Guardiola`s Sky Blues unveil their own free-scoring Egyptian King by then, linking up with Haaland with the same devastating effectiveness that Agüero and Džeko once shared over a decade ago? The prospect of this new, potent strike partnership could very well define City`s season and their quest for renewed Premier League glory.