Graeme Souness insists Manchester City are "vulnerable" thanks to Fernandinho being moved out of his defensive midfield role.
The Brazilian has been filling in at centre-back for Pep Guardiola's team this season as they failed to retain the Premier League title.
After racking up 98 points last season and 100 the in 2017-18, City have lost nine matches and sit 24 points adrift of Liverpool.
Former Rangers manager Souness feels there's a very good reason for that, and it comes down to a lack of steel in the middle of the park.
He said on Sky Sports: "They're trusting the man in possession of the ball not to be giving it away cheaply.
"The full-backs go up there, because they know in midfield they won't be giving it away cheaply.
"If, when they're breaking on you, you haven't got someone like Fernandinho that can sense danger and nullify it early on you're vulnerable.
"I think Fernandinho by not being in the centre of midfield - Rodri's done ok, maybe needs another year in our football - but I think by not having him there it's made City vulnerable in a way they weren't when he was playing there.
"For me he has been, in the last five years or so, the best holding midfielder player, bar none, out there."
