Manchester City’s Title Hopes Take a Hit Amid Injury Crisis
Manchester City’s Premier League title challenge suffered a major setback with a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, leaving Pep Guardiola’s side in fifth place ahead of their midweek clash with Nottingham Forest.
City’s performance was subpar, despite the return of Jeremy Doku to the squad and Ruben Dias to the starting XI. Kevin De Bruyne also earned valuable minutes as he continues his recovery, but injuries to key players remain a critical issue, especially in midfield.
Here’s the latest update on City’s injury woes:
Mateo Kovacic
- Injury: Unknown
- What we know: Guardiola revealed that Kovacic returned from Croatia’s Nations League duty carrying an injury that could sideline him for “maybe a month.” His absence is particularly problematic given City’s ongoing struggles without Rodri in midfield.
- Potential return date: Aston Villa (A), December 21
John Stones
- Injury: Unknown
- What we know: Stones was substituted at halftime against Tottenham and hasn’t featured in City’s last two matchday squads. Guardiola remains hopeful of his availability for the Nottingham Forest game on Wednesday.
- Potential return date: Nottingham Forest (H), December 4
Rodri
- Injury: Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)
- What we know: Rodri sustained a serious knee injury and is not expected back until mid-2025. However, he has expressed hope of making a comeback before the end of the season, possibly for the Club World Cup.
- Potential return date: June 2025
Oscar Bobb
- Injury: Fractured Leg
- What we know: The young Norwegian suffered a leg break in August but is working towards a comeback during the festive period. The club is optimistic he could return for some fixtures before the end of the year.
- Potential return date: Late December
With multiple key players sidelined, Guardiola faces an uphill battle to keep City in contention. The match against Nottingham Forest will be pivotal as City look to stop the slide and rekindle their title ambitions.
