Nico Gonzalez’s full stats emerge from Man City vs Liverpool, they prove he’s ready to explode
Nico Gonzalez turned up on the big stage as Manchester City trounced Liverpool 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
Gonzalez scored a thunderbolt from range after Erling Haaland’s glancing header to give Man City a 2-0 lead before half-time.
Jeremy Doku, who stole the headlines against Liverpool, curled a beautiful effort into the top corner to give Pep Guardiola’s men a comfortable win.
Doku’s performance was electric at the Etihad Stadium, although Gonzalez also received plaudits for his complete display after dominating Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai in the engine room.
Nico Gonzalez was incredible for Man City vs Liverpool
Gonzalez was signed by Man City last summer as a backup to Rodri, but the 23-year-old has struggled to reach the levels of his Ballon d’Or-winning teammate.
Clinton Morrison even slammed Gonzalez during Man City’s 1-0 defeat against Aston Villa after claiming he was ‘slowing the midfield down’.
But during City’s hammering of Liverpool, the Spaniard made Morrison eat his own words with a near flawless display, controlling the middle of the park with his exceptional passing range and defensive awareness.
| Nico Gonzalez stats vs Liverpool |
| 90 minutes played |
| 1 goal |
| 51/58 (88%) passes completed |
| 2 fouls drawn |
| 5/6 ground duels won |
| 3/3 tackles won |
| 2 recoveries |
Gonzalez’s outstanding all-round performance was eerily close to something we’ve seen from Rodri, and even his strike from outside the box was smashed home with a similar technique.
As demonstrated by the midfielders’ heat map, courtesy of Football Insider’s data partnership with Opta, the former Spain under-21 international acted as a screen in front of the City defence and that offered them a solid platform to outsmart Arne Slot’s side.
Gonzalez also played multiple line-splitting passes, proving his class as a technician while dominating a Liverpool midfield that lacked any energy and tenacity.
Gonzalez is worthy Rodri replacement
When Rodri suffered his ACL injury in September 2024, Guardiola relied on Mateo Kovacic as his replacement.
The Croatian did a solid job, but in terms of needing an incredible ball player who is comfortable under pressure, Gonzalez ticks that box and it is why he was trusted against Liverpool.
Rodri recently returned to training after picking up a muscle problem, but the City boss is in no hurry to rush him back, presenting an opportunity for Gonzalez to stamp his authority on the position.
Although the 29-year-old is indispensable to Guardiola’s system when fully fit, Rodri could leave Man City with his contract expiring in 2027, and that is why Gonzalez is the perfect long-term successor.