The No. 9 appeared on the electronic board twice in swift succession. The timing was the same, the circumstances very different. Erling Haaland departed at half-time with two goals to his name, Jamie Vardy with nine touches to his. And if part of that felt inevitable – the lone striker for a relegation-threatened team can get isolated at the Etihad, while even in his pomp Vardy was on the ball with devastating potency rather than great frequency – his anonymity felt a sign that, 36, his race is finally run.
He remains the only player with two hat-tricks against Pep Guardiola teams. He is also the forward with a lone goal in 30 league games this season.
