Troy Deeney has claimed Jack Grealish has become ‘predictable’ as part of Pep Guardiola‘s Manchester City set-up – but that this is not necessarily a bad thing.
Deeney, 35, is a current player-coach for League Two Forest Green Rovers, having made a name for himself in the Premier League with Watford between 2015 and 2022.
He believes that while Man City have become easy to read, they could still cause Liverpool problems when the top two sides meet at the Etihad on Saturday lunchtime.
‘When he is on it, cutting inside playing those one-twos, he is unstoppable.’
However, this season, Deeney claims that Grealish, 28, ‘looks a bit off it’, although he has been ‘a victim of his own success’, alongside being hampered by injuries, and adapting to a change in role.
The former Watford and Walsall striker said: ‘Jack has had to change under Pep. Some will say he’s changed for the worse. He no longer takes people on for fun, looking for the pass inside instead.
‘But, I actually see it as a compliment from Pep. He thinks Jack is smart enough to do that.’
Part of that change has been owing to the injury-enforced absence of Kevin De Bruyne, and competition from Jeremy Doku.
Deeney added: ‘Jeremy Doku has come in and has now got that fire in his belly and motivation to keep Jack out of the team.’
He believes that Liverpool ‘can be just as predictable’, by pressing high and allowing Grealish space to do his thing, regardless of whether he starts or comes off the bench.
Deeney considers whether Grealish’s style of play would suit Liverpool’s fast-paced countering style more than it would the Citizens, before adding: ‘We all know how Jurgen Klopp plays, and I don’t think Jack is fast enough to even start for Liverpool right now.’
Liverpool will take top spot from Grealish’s Man City if they can end the hosts’ dominance at the Etihad to get all three points on Saturday lunchtime.