We are all still adjusting after only two weekends of the new Premier League season. It’s too soon to discern any definitive patterns for the upcoming campaign; the sample size is quite limited. Nevertheless, that hasn’t deterred us from uncovering some intriguing observations from the limited action thus far.

This week’s bold assertion is that Erling Haaland will not score as many goals this season as he did in the previous one.

Why? Well, the phrase “finding your feet” or, more precisely, “finding the correct foot” may be highly relevant here.

Kevin De Bruyne’s extended absence due to a hamstring injury sustained on the opening day of the season against Burnley will be a significant blow to Manchester City. No one will feel De Bruyne’s absence more than Haaland, as the Belgian created 25 chances (including one from a corner) for City’s new center-forward in the Premier League last season. This partnership was the most productive combination between two players in the City squad, nearly double the amount of chances created by the next-most-prolific provider, Phil Foden.

Haaland’s favored runs often saw him positioned at the back post, courtesy of De Bruyne’s precise right-footed deliveries. However, with De Bruyne sidelined, Foden appears to be the player tasked with filling the creative void in Pep Guardiola’s attack. His impressive performance against Newcastle United suggests he’s up for the challenge of occupying De Bruyne’s role in the right half-space.

But does a left-footed Foden provide the same service to Haaland?

When drifting to the left side of the pitch, the answer seems to be yes. Foden intelligently finds Haaland’s favored runs, as seen against Newcastle.

However, when Foden advances from central areas or the right half-space, something changes. In these situations, Haaland shifts to the right channel, anticipating that Foden’s left-footed pass trajectory may not be ideal for his favored runs.

This forces Haaland to control the ball with the outside of his left foot, check his movement towards goal, and often leaves him with limited shooting options.

The subtle difference in the angle and trajectory of the incoming pass significantly impacts the outcome of the sequence. This highlights the need for Haaland and his teammates to adapt and refine their link-up play to maximize efficiency, just as Thierry Henry advised Haaland last season.

While Foden won’t be the sole provider for Haaland, and other right-footed players like Mateo Kovacic and Julian Alvarez will certainly find him when he makes those left-channel runs, these nuances demonstrate the importance of small details at the Premier League level.

Ultimately, it’s too early in the season to label this as a trend, but it provides insight into the potential adaptations required from Haaland and his teammates in De Bruyne’s absence.