Manchester City star Jack Grealish has been criticised by Alan Shearer for playing ‘too safe’ after Aston Villa transfer.

The England international commanded a Premier League record transfer fee when he left boyhood club Villa for £100million in the summer transfer window to link up with Pep Guardiola at Man City.

The honeymoon period that inevitably comes with a £100million price tag, even with a manager who respects reputations and transfer fees as little as Guardiola should now be over.

Grealish had done well enough in his first four months in sky blue, largely because he has created space and time for others, rather than being the creative, goalscoring kingpin he was at Aston Villa.

It has to be said that Grealish is not in Guardiola’s strongest XI, and in terms of the left-wing slot he is behind both Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden.

Grealish has played the false nine before – he was ineffective at Anfield, missed a hatful of chances against Wolves and was a non-entity in west London last night.

Guardiola switched him back to the left, and he perked up – whether that was because he just feels more comfortable there, or because he simply does not fancy being stuck with a role that is more sacrificial than most in this City set-up, only he knows.

Premier League’s all-time top goal scorer Shearer thinks Grealish must express himself more on the ball, like he would at Villa, under Guardiola at City.

During Amazon Prime’s post-match analysis, Shearer said: “Everything Grealish did was safe and simple.

“It looked as if he was scared to lose possession and take a gamble. That hasn’t come from Pep as he gives his players the confidence to take players on.

“I understand Grealish is doing his job defensively when they don’t have the ball. But in this Manchester City team there is room for him to express himself more.

“He was the danger man at Aston Villa. He went past two or three people and won a foul or a got a shot. But he was too safe today.

“He only played four or five-yard passes all night. He should be saying he wants to be the star in this team.

“They’ve paid £100m for me. It’s not my fault they have paid that but I am going to show you my quality.”

Man City fans across social media tend to agree with Shearer’s assessment of Grealish.

Grealish, what Alan Shearer just said is very accurate

— Mike Black (@mikeblackphoto) December 29, 2021

Grealish is reluctant to take people on like he did at Aston Villa and is playing too safe and keeping possession rather than taking a risk and being direct

— 37 (@KaykyBunda) December 29, 2021