Manchester City Injury Update Ahead of Crucial Liverpool Showdown
Manchester City face a high-stakes Premier League clash against Liverpool on Sunday, but Pep Guardiola‘s squad remains hampered by injuries despite signs of improvement. While Ruben Dias returned for the midweek draw with Feyenoord, questions linger over several key players’ fitness as Guardiola keeps his cards close to his chest.
Here’s the latest injury update from the Etihad Stadium as City prepare for one of their biggest games of the season:
Mateo Kovacic
- Injury: Unknown
- What we know: Guardiola revealed that Kovacic returned from international duty with Croatia nursing an injury. The issue is expected to sideline him for “maybe a month,” compounding City’s midfield troubles in the continued absence of Rodri.
- Potential return date: Aston Villa (A), December 21
John Stones
- Injury: Unknown
- What we know: Stones played only 45 minutes against Spurs before being subbed off and missed the squad entirely against Feyenoord. While he may be in contention for Sunday, a starting role looks doubtful.
- Potential return date: Liverpool (A), December 1
Jeremy Doku
- Injury: Hamstring
- What we know: Doku has returned to training but was not included in the Feyenoord matchday squad. His fitness will be evaluated, and he could be available for selection against Liverpool.
- Potential return date: Liverpool (A), December 1
Rodri
- Injury: Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)
- What we know: Rodri is recovering from a serious knee injury and will not return until mid-2025. Despite the lengthy timeline, he has expressed a desire to return before the season ends, potentially targeting the Club World Cup.
- Potential return date: June 2025
Oscar Bobb
- Injury: Fractured Leg
- What we know: The Norwegian forward broke his leg in August but is progressing in his recovery. City hope Bobb will be fit enough to feature during the festive period.
- Potential return date: December 2024
Ruben Dias
- Status: Fit but limited
- What we know: Dias returned to action against Feyenoord, but Guardiola is unlikely to rush him into a starting role at Anfield, given his recent absence.
With Guardiola expected to make some key decisions regarding his lineup, City will need to navigate their persistent injury challenges to stand a chance against a Liverpool side in formidable form.
