Haaland is currently running away with the Premier League’s Golden Boot with 11 goals and such has been City’s reliance on him that the side’s next highest top scorer does not even play for them.
Unlucky Frenchman Maxime Esteve’s two goals at Etihad Stadium for Burnley puts him next on the list, with Tijjani Reijnders, Phil Foden, Matheus Nunes and Rayan Cherki contributing one apiece.
Boss Guardiola had asked for his wingers and midfielders to step but they failed to do so and it proved costly with, what could be, a damaging defeat come May.
Haaland did have opportunities against Villa but failed to take them, missing a gilt-edged chance immediately after his side went behind, running through and having a low shot smothered by Emiliano Martinez.
The Argentine goalkeeper plucked out another Haaland header from the air in the second half and when he was beaten just before the end, the offside flag came to his rescue.
Haaland collided heavily with the post in the aftermath, slumping down the tunnel with his head bowed at full-time and Guardiola said he had not spoken to his player, but “hopefully he is fine”.
With 15 goals scored so far and netting 34 in an injury-hit campaign last term, City cannot begin to bear the thought of being without their main man at any point this season.
Villa boss Emery said: “We tried tactically and in individual performance to get duels with him, intelligently, with the power we showed.
“Then we had some help from defensive cover and also the goalkeeper. We needed everything to stop him.”
City’s injury crisis meant Guardiola dipped into the transfer market in January by signing four players, and he brought in another six during the summer, but only keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Reijnders started at Villa.
Attackers Omar Marmoush and Cherki were introduced from the substitutes’ bench in the second half after recovering from injuries and the two now need to step up to ease the burden on Haaland’s shoulders.
City’s next league game comes at home to high-flying Bournemouth next Sunday and Guardiola has a decision to make whether he throws both of them in for that important encounter.
Discover more from 6up.net
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.