Frank Lampard could be already thinking about Plan B in January transfer window

As well he might because he’d both reshuffled and augmented a back-line with the hope an extra centre-back would stymie the likes of Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki, Antoine Semenyo and Iliman Ndiaye.

In the end it worked very well, not perfectly because Haaland managed to score the only goal of the game, but the Sky Blues weren’t opened up as regularly as they had been at Arsenal on first night.

Afterwards Lampard hinted the back five is ‘definitely an option for us’ in ‘games like this’. It certainly is an option but not only in matches against the likes of Arsenal and City.

Indeed, the Sky Blues won’t have two more daunting trips for the rest of the campaign but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t use the formation again.

I’ve already written about the ‘Eureka’ moment Leeds United boss Daniel Farke had when 3-0 down at the Etihad last November. The Whites were falling behind the point-a-game target the owners had set and were well on their way to a fourth successive defeat.

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With Chelsea, Liverpool and a trip to Brentford on the horizon it looked ominous for Farke.

Three down at the break off went wingers Willy Gnonto and Daniel James and on came centre back Jaka Bijol and target man Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Leeds had played their way out of the Championship with a 4-2-3-1 and an emphasis on attacking but they learned that day the Premier League required something different. With a five man defence they scored twice and nearly equalised at the end.

Farke never looked back, the set-up remained and they went on an unbeaten seven game run. The wingers barely played again, instead Leeds’ centre back depth was tested.

Names like Axel Disasi, Nathan Ake, Danilho Doehki and some chap called Bobby Thomas were mentioned.

Even at the back of his mind Lampard must be thinking about following a similar path – and if he is you can be sure Dean Austin will be considering his transfer options for early next year.

Thomas remains a totemic presence, Ethan Pinnock and Aurele Amenda have arrived and as a three they looked very complementary at Man City.

If the three of them can stay fit for the next four months that would be ideal and it would dictate that when Lampard says three central defenders are ‘definitely an option’ he means it definitely is an option.

However, it is less attractive if the Sky Blues start to lose bodies and the back-ups are thrust into a more front-line role.

To be fair, the likes of Joel Latibeaudiere and Luke Woolfenden are probably desperate for the opportunity to prove themselves, but without proof of concept it’s a risk. The former has never played in the top flight, the latter has done so 15 times.

Now it’s important not to over-react to one match, this was a good display in a loss to Manchester City, but Lampard has some thinking to do and he could also have some conversations about new centre backs to have with Austin and Doug King.