Stones' adaptability has proven a key asset in Man City's title push

Back in 2018, Pep Guardiola made a vow. 

"I do not know how long I will be here in Manchester, but as long as I am here, John Stones will be with us," he said. 

Five years on and Guardiola has stayed true to his word. After his terrific displays over the last few weeks, Stones is more important to the Manchester City cause than he has ever been. 

The England international delivered a masterclass of a performance on Saturday, as City thrashed Liverpool 4-1 to keep the heat on Arsenal in the Premier League title race.  

When the team sheet was released an hour before kick-off, the assumption was that Stones would play as an orthodox right-back. Up against the dangerous duo of Diogo Jota and Andy Robertson down Liverpool’s left, it was thought that the former Everton man would have plenty of defending to do as City attempted to get the better of a team that had pushed them all the way last term. 

In fact, Stones spent most of his time in the centre of the park. He was always likely to push into midfield when City had possession, but no one could have anticipated just how assured he would look in that role, especially when pushing forward into attack. 

Liverpool took the lead at the Etihad Stadium, but they were comprehensively dismantled by their hosts in the second half. The likes of Julian Alvarez and Jack Grealish may have been more involved in the final third, but Stones was as integral as any of his teammates to City’s dominance after the break. 

It was fascinating to watch Stones at work. This was not just a case of him occasionally tucking infield to provide extra security against Liverpool counter-attacks. Stones popped up all over the pitch and often took on a more active role than Rodri, whose first-half booking forced him to be on his best behaviour thereafter. 

Stones’ heat map illustrates his involvement all over the pitch. Only Nathan Ake (96.9%) and Ruben Dias (95.8%) could better his pass completion rate (95.5%), but that is not because Stones simply played safe. One patient spell of City possession was speeded up by his excellent diagonal pass out to Riyad Mahrez on the right flank. 

In the build-up to City’s third goal, scored by Ilkay Gundogan, Stones was heavily involved in the final third. He was completely comfortable receiving the ball between the lines, demonstrating remarkable awareness and composure for a player who has spent most of his career at the other end of the pitch. 

This was not the first time Stones has been deployed centrally. He shone in a similar role in last month’s 7-0 demolition of RB Leipzig, albeit he did not push quite as high on that occasion.  

There is evidence as far back as 2018 to suggest that Guardiola saw Stones as an option in midfield. He used him in a holding role in back-to-back games against Crystal Palace and Leicester City in December of that year, but City lost both matches and the experiment was soon shelved. 

Given how well he played as an inverted right-back against Liverpool, we are likely to see more of Stones fulfilling that function between now and the end of the campaign.

His ability to retain possession even when put under pressure makes him an ideal candidate for the position. Indeed, no player in the Premier League has a higher pass success rate (93.6%) this season. 

Stones cannot match Kyle Walker’s recovery pace and there will be games where Guardiola opts for a more conventional choice on the right-hand side of the defence.  

But the 28-year-old’s adaptability is highly valued by his manager, who has now played him at the heart of a back three, as a wide centre-back in that system, as an orthodox right-back, and as an inverted right-back. On each occasion, Stones has risen to the challenge.