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Manchester City: Analyzing David Silva’s Recent Form

By Dan Larsen

SWANSEA, WALES - MARCH 16: David Silva of Manchester City during the FA Cup Quarter Final match between Swansea City and Manchester City at Liberty Stadium on March 16, 2019 in Swansea, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
SWANSEA, WALES - MARCH 16: David Silva of Manchester City during the FA Cup Quarter Final match between Swansea City and Manchester City at Liberty Stadium on March 16, 2019 in Swansea, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) /
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David Silva came out of the gates strong for Manchester City at the start of the season.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 07: David Silva of Manchester City celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Group F match of the UEFA Champions League between Manchester City and FC Shakhtar Donetsk at Etihad Stadium on November 7, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 07: David Silva of Manchester City celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Group F match of the UEFA Champions League between Manchester City and FC Shakhtar Donetsk at Etihad Stadium on November 7, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /

Manchester City’s title defense couldn’t have gotten off to a better start this season.

Despite losing their best player from the previous season, Kevin De Bruyne, to a significant knee injury right after their opening win at Arsenal, Manchester City came out of the gates strong. City entered the heavy December fixture list top of the league on 35 points, two points ahead of Liverpool.

David Silva was a major reason for their success.

In their opening 13 league matches, Silva was as good as he’s ever been. According to whoscored.com, David Silva had a form rating above an eight in six of his first 11 league matches this season. He posted a form rating better than seven in nine of those 11 games. Only in their away draws at Wolves and Liverpool did Silva’s form rating dip below that level.

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Silva was fantastic in all respects. He was creating chances and controlling games with his elite passing. Silva’s pass completion percentage was above 90% in five of his first 11 league appearances, and above 85% in nine. He was making over 3 key passes per game, despite only having two assists to his name.

He was scoring goals, something he’s only done in streaks in his near decade long tenure at the club. Silva scored five goals in his opening 11 games in the league.

Even his defense work was solid, picking up at least one tackle or one interception in all but one of his first 11 league appearances.

David Silva’s fantastic form was also apparent in the UEFA Champions League. After a mediocre opening game in their loss at home to Lyon, Silva scored in three consecutive games and posted form ratings of 8.64, 9.34, and 8.29. Those were good for his best, third best, and seven best games of the season through the end of November.

David Silva was doing everything Manchester City needed in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne.

He was alternating with Bernardo Silva as the more advanced of the two attacking midfielders. Silva’s intricate play was allowing the wingers and striker space to get in behind against extremely compact teams. His deft first touches and pin point passes were setting up the team perfectly in the final third.

Silva was also extremely involved in the build up of play. Silva attempted at least 50 passes in every appearance he made in the league and the UCL in the opening four months of the season.

It looked as if, even at the age of 33, that he might have been better than he’s ever been.

Things, however, took a significant turn for the worse at the start of December.