Manchester City vs. Liverpool: Pep Guardiola Faces Selection Dilemmas Ahead of Crucial Premier League Clash
Manchester City head to Anfield on Sunday in desperate need of a result to halt their alarming slide. Pep Guardiola’s men have suffered three consecutive Premier League defeats and five losses in their last six matches across all competitions. Even their lone bright spot—a midweek 3-3 draw against Feyenoord in the Champions League—felt like a setback as they surrendered a commanding three-goal lead in the final 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, Liverpool come into the clash in imperious form, having lost just once in all competitions this season. Fresh off a midweek victory over Real Madrid, Arne Slot’s side sit atop the table domestically and in Europe. With a win on Sunday, Liverpool could open up an 11-point gap over City, a potential knockout blow to Guardiola’s faltering campaign.
Guardiola’s Injury Concerns
City’s selection headaches continue as Guardiola navigates injuries to key players:
- Rodri, Mateo Kovacic, and Oscar Bobb remain long-term absentees.
- Kevin De Bruyne, while back in the squad, is not yet fully fit. Guardiola noted before the Feyenoord match that the Belgian had only completed one proper training session. “Throwing him back in from the start against Liverpool feels like a risk,” Guardiola remarked.
- Ruben Dias returned to the squad midweek but did not feature, while John Stones was absent entirely.
Predicted Lineup Decisions
With injuries limiting his options, Guardiola is likely to stick with a familiar group. Key lineup considerations include:
- Defence:
- Kyle Walker could return to the backline alongside probable starters Josko Gvardiol, Manuel Akanji, and Nathan Ake.
- Ederson will start in goal.
- Midfield:
- Ilkay Gundogan may anchor the midfield for his intelligence and ability to play as a number six.
- Rico Lewis could be pushed further forward to provide support, a tactical tweak Guardiola has employed previously.
- Matheus Nunes, who started midweek, may miss out again in the Premier League, with his recent appearances primarily coming from the left flank.
- Attack:
- Phil Foden could retain a creative role in De Bruyne’s absence, while Bernardo Silva adds experience and versatility.
- Jack Grealish may complete the attacking trio behind Erling Haaland, with Savinho lacking consistency and Jeremy Doku just returning from injury.
City’s Predicted XI:
Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Gvardiol, Ake; Gundogan, Lewis, Foden; Bernardo Silva, Grealish, Haaland.
The stakes couldn’t be higher for City, as Guardiola’s men look to avoid slipping further behind Liverpool in the title race. Sunday’s showdown could be pivotal in shaping the Premier League season.
