“Just the start”. Omar Marmoush's post on X after his striking hat trick against Newcastle last weekend had several meanings. It announced his official arrival at the Premier League. But more than that, became the symbol of the newest chapter of Manchester City. Pep Guardiola's latest renovation.
Marmoush was reserved by the club's hierarchy as a player who could make an immediate difference. An all -round ahead to match the best in Europe.
Even before his Treble in the 4-0 Thrashing of Newcastle-one of the most striking individual versions of 2024/25-Had, direct and smart movement with late arrivals in the box caused many problems during a 3-1 win over Chelsea.
His energy and dynamics are a welcome, albeit the rare source of joy in the midst of the mud of the decreasing season of Man City. Their dramatic decline may have a strong armed action in the January window, but how a £ 60 million in Marmoush has been rationalized, it looks like smart things. This was not a panic.
The 26-year-old, who goes into his peak years, is one of the few players without the physical exhaustion and mental scars that seem to tease the rest of Guardiola's Browbeaten champions. Marmoush looks fresh, with untouched talent, able to illuminate and wear the burden.
The attacker will be an obvious reason for concern for Arne Slot while drawing up a game plan for the Liverpool trip to Etihad on Sunday, live on Sky Sports. A concern for Trent Alexander-Arnold too.
Marmoush can dribble 1V1, use instinctive combination games and fast switches, run from outside to running or cuddle the touchline, and has already closed a good working partnership with Josko Gvardiol on the left. The options of the city to go short or long – or somewhere in between – have increased exponentially.
Michael Wimmer, one of the former coaches of Marmoush at VFB Stuttgart, told Sky Sports earlier this season that the Egyptian international has exceptional “orientation skills”. What he meant was a ability to solve and adjust the problem, regardless of how opposition teams set up. He can play between the lines, in tight areas or exploit space behind it.
His flexibility is probably the factor that made him so attractive for Man City in the first place. Erling Haaland scored 19 Premier League goals this season, but he has often cut an isolated figure. Phil Foden, a shadow of his former self, has chipped seven, but the burden has been Haaland's to wear. He needed help.
Take the most recent victory of City on Newcastle as the perfect example of an enlightened charge. It was the first Premier League match this season in which City did not admit any great chance, while their expected goals were confronted (0.48) their on two NA-Fewyste of the campaign.
Marmoush took four shots and scored with three of them, of an XG value of 0.71. He was the most polluted (3) player in the game and tore a very experienced Kieran Trippier to fragments, which added much more nuance to the game of the city.
Variation was also clear in his finish, while a master class from the midfield from Nico Gonzalez helped stabilize stabilizing and offering a platform to build.
How can that all help this Sunday? Well, Pep has now been filmed with the possibility to solve problems. City has cut their wings this year – due to the loss of Rodri, defensive injuries and the mental tension of relentless expectations – but the rise of the other superstar of Egypt is a lifeline. Mo Salah may have to share his spotlights.
“Nothing is eternal,” said Pep on Wednesday after he crashed the Champions League from the Champions League for 12 years. “It is the year that we have been the worst.” But although their weak exit will have injured Real Madrid, it can also act as a relief. This city team, so early in the latest evolution, would not win a European elite competition this season.
Why extend the process?
Haaland's absence – an unused replacement at the Bernabeu – was certainly acceptance of that fact.
However, all hope is not lost in the Premier League. Since Christmas, only Liverpool and Arsenal have won more points than Manchester City.
The rivalry can wear less Jeopardy on this occasion, since the hosts have long been out of the title race, but it is still important. City would be very pleased to set a dent in the chances of the league leaders to steal their crown, and every suggestion undermines that Liverpool has the references to rivals the domestic dominance of the past five or six years.
The Reds are located in the midst of an energy -sapping -run -five games in fourteen days.
Due to their last eight league games, they may have ended their undefeated run to 22, but they have dropped eight points in the process.
They were rightly held to a draw at home to struggle man Utd in their first outing of 2025, came from behind to secure a point in Nottingham Forest, scored twice in a stop time to defeat Brentford and walk around at both Bournemouth And then Wolves late weekend, in a second half where they didn't have any shot – Wolves had 10.
Is the reluctance of lock to catch up with him? Alexander-Arnold is one of the 10 players who have started seven or more of the eight league matches on his side since the turn of the year. His reluctance to defend 1V1 is also a problem, given the directness and ability of Marmoush to attract mistakes.
Youri Tielemans scored the equalizer of Aston Villa in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Wednesday by peeling Alexander-Arnold, while Lucas Digne freely roamed the left channel of the full-back before he stood up a ball for Ollie Watkins to one Second to score. He did a fine by performing the level, but was addicted shortly thereafter.
The chance is that Marmoush wants to benefit.
Pep is adamelable that he remains the right man to lead Manchester City to this new era. He continues to remind reporters that “we have achieved something unique in our country and in Europe”. And now with the right combination of time, patience and recruitment nuisse, he is adamant to do it again.
Marmoush will undoubtedly turn out to be a huge asset in that process. However, how that helps in the here and now, will be investigated on Sundays. Are we about to see the newest turn in this fascinating story?
View this Sunday from 4 p.m. Manchester City vs Liverpool Live on Sky Sports Premier League; kick -off at 4.30 p.m.
Comments