David Silva is enjoying one of his best seasons at Manchester City, and his two goals against Stoke took his side another step closer the title.
It’s now a case of when, rather than if, Pep Guardiola’s side will lift the Premier League trophy, and while there is no doubt who the team of the season are, Silva’s performances this term have at least raised the question of who is the best player within it.
At 32, the Spaniard is entering the twilight of his career, but under the tutelage of Guardiola he looks to have found his best role in a style of play which suits him. This particular sunset could be one of great majesty.
A piece of play from Gabriel Jesus allowed Man City to open the scoring, and showed why the Brazilian is so highly valued by his managers at club and international level.
Dropping off the opposition’s defensive line to receive the ball in an attacking midfield position, he drew the centre backs out with him. This created space in behind for Raheem Sterling, who he played in down the right, and then Silva, who drifted into the area to get on the end of Sterling’s cross.
Stoke had sent out an exciting front three, at least on paper, in the shape of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Jese, and Xherdan Shaqiri. The latter, a diminutive but bullish inside forward, had young Man City left back Oleksandr Zinchenko swinging his boot at thin air as he put the ball between his legs before setting up a chance for Badou Ndiaye which was deflected wide.
However, save for a stray Kyle Walker interception which Ederson had to tip over the bar, this was one of the few times the home side threatened.
Silva had another chance when a trademark Kevin De Bruyne cross found its way through everyone including the Spaniard, who couldn't quite make contact with the ball despite it passing through his vicinity.
De Bruyne whipped another ball into the box from a free kick shortly after, but again it was inches away from connecting with a team-mate. Fernandinho saw a shot saved by Jack Butland, Leroy Sane volleyed wide from another pinpoint De Bruyne cross, but Stoke hung on to go in at half time just one down.
- Silva: 5
- Ozil, Mata, Fabregas and Eriksen combined: 3
The best CAM in the league
#STKMCI
This gave the fans in the Bet365 Stadium optimism and a reason to keep cheering into the second period. A couple of incidents in the game, such as De Bruyne’s battle with right back Moritz Bauer, brought out the Premier League’s physical side and the supporters of both sides responded, shouting encouragement to the man in their corner.
Both sets of players may have been encouraged by various songs about “City” which could have applied to either side, but it was the City of Manchester whose quality showed, and whose players were able to do the job expected of them.
The second goal was just as impressive as the first, and saw the resumption of the Silva show. Sterling won the ball deep inside the Stoke half before laying it back to Walker, who immediately picked out Silva. Wise choice.
The Spaniard controlled the ball as he had controlled the game, feeding Gabriel Jesus before encouraging the striker to play the return pass with a run which couldn’t be ignored. The young forward obliged, looping the ball into Silva’s path for the midfielder to turn the ball past Butland.
Sterling missed a chance to make it three when referee Jonathan Moss allowed the visitors take a quick free kick while all the Stoke defenders were otherwise engaged. Those in red and white stripes were angry at the decision to let play go on, and this controversy may hide the fact that it was an awful miss from Sterling, who lost control as he tried to round Butland with Gabriel Jesus waiting next to him for a tap in.
When a player gets his name on the scoresheet twice, as Silva did here, he’s always going to attract attention, but his all-round game was just as impressive.
His passing was unerringly accurate, especially considering he was operating in such an advanced position in the centre of the park, and he finished the game having found the target with 96 percent of his passes.
This is Silva’s eighth season at the Manchester club and, given the role he now plays and the way he plays it, there could be many more to come, and they may well be the best of his career.
As Man City edge closer to the title Silva is edging closer to De Bruyne as his side’s best player, and even though he’s unlikely to catch him, the future is bright for the silky Spaniard.
