Man City big-game partnership wins again and can help Premier League race

In the biggest games last season, Pep Guardiola turned to Ruben Dias and John Stones.

In the Champions League against Bayern twice, Real twice and then Inter, it was Stones and Dias. In the FA Cup final against United, it was Stones and Dias. And in the Premier League decider against Arsenal, it was Stones and Dias.

The roving role of Stones meant they weren't always next to each other in the Manchester City team but it was always a close partnership where both players knew exactly what the other was doing and could anticipate and accommodate as the game unfolded. It cannot be said that they are not capable of their best without each other, yet it is undeniable that together they are a force to be reckoned with.

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That simply hasn't happened this season, largely because of injuries to Stones. Before City jetted out for the Club World Cup they had only made the same starting XI four times if you include the Community Shield.

Seeing them make it five in the Club World Cup final gave City a reassurance that hasn't been there often enough this season. Stones pushed forward a lot, and the Blues were hardly watertight; Ederson made a very good save from a corner, having previously played some poor balls to get his team into trouble and Rodri screamed at Rico Lewis in the second half after another sloppy passage of play.

On the other hand, Nathan Ake was excellent again to continue his form as arguably the best defender this season. His early effort created the opening ball inside the first minute, and his cover in defence was no less important.

The more players win in a team and the more