Aside from the staggering number of goals that Erling Haaland has scored since arriving at Manchester City - the tally now stands at 19 in 12 matches in all competitions - Riyad Mahrez's underwhelming start to the campaign is perhaps the most surprising thing to happen at City this season.
The Algerian winger has been a key player for City over the past two seasons; last season he was the Blues' top goal-scorer with 24 goals in all competitions, and the season before he scored some crucial goals to propel City to a first-ever Champions League final appearance.
This year though Mahrez has been a bit-part player, starting just two of City's eight Premier League games and failing to impress when given a chance by Pep Guardiola.
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Mahrez did look much brighter on Wednesday evening though in City's 5-0 demolition of FC Copenhagen in the Champions League, causing all sorts of problems for the left-hand side of the visitors' defence and scoring City's fourth goal of the night with a well-taken penalty.
When asked about the level of competition he faces for minutes this season, Mahrez was honest but upbeat in his assessment.
"Of course, there has always been [competition for minutes]," he told BT Sport after the match. "I have been here five years, maybe there has been more competition before than now, but it’s good."
It seems strange to see Mahrez starting matches on the bench, but BT Sport pundits Owen Hargreaves and Peter Crouch said that is down to the quality and form of his teammates rather than any significant shortcoming of his own.
"He has probably got the best first touch in the Premier League, and everyone loves watching him play," said Hargreaves. "He was the top scorer last season, but Phil Foden and Haaland have been that good so they are going to play, but I think Mahrez is one of the best."
"He was their top goal-scorer last season, he is a top, top player and I love watching him. He can go past people with ease but he’s just not managing to get in the side at the minute," added Crouch.
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