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Manchester City news and injury updates as Pep Guardiola's side prepare for a Premier League date with Liverpool as both sides seek to keep pace with leaders Arsenal
Manchester City take on Liverpool in a mouthwatering Premier League clash on Sunday.
The two sides are battling to keep pace with leaders Arsenal and the weekend clash between the teams second and third in the table will be a litmus test for both.
With the Gunners taking on fourth place Sunderland, it could be a pivotal weekend in the title race. City boss Pep Guardiola has seen his side lose just once in 13 games in all competitions and the Blues have won three on the bounce since being beaten by Aston Villa last month.
But City will likely be without two midfielders for the visit of Arne Slot's side. Here's the injury latest from the Etihad.
Rodri
Injury: Fitness
The midfielder is unlikely to be included in the squad against Liverpool as his stop-start season continues.
He had made a return to action as a late sub against Bournemouth, having been sidelined for a number of weeks with a hamstring injury suffered at Brentford, but was not involved against Dortmund in midweek.
"We'll see tomorrow but I think we won't take the risk with the international break," said Guardiola on Friday ahead of the game with Liverpool. "We have to wait for the time when he feels strong and fit and can sustain actions in the game that are so demanding.
"We have to make that step. We are still in November, the best part of the season is ahead of us and we need him.
"We are still playing without a massively important player for us - the Ballon d'Or winner from two seasons ago - and we are desperate to have him back, knowing that Nico right now is becoming a really important and good player."
Potential return date: Newcastle (A) November 22
Mateo Kovacic
Injury: Ankle
The Croatia midfielder has yet to start a game for the Blues this season having undergone Achilles surgery in the summer. He recovered from that to take his place in the matchday squad against Burnley in September but his only club minutes have come from the bench against Everton and Villarreal. He did start for Croatia against Gibraltar during the international break, playing just over an hour.
He was not involved against Swansea City in a match that had been earmarked for his first start and Pep Guardiola confirmed after the Premier League win over Bournemouth that the 31-year-old faces an extended spell out of the side.
"He will be out for a while," said the City boss. "He still has a problem with the ankle, a little calcification still there. We'll wait on him for the last part of the season."
Potential return date: February 2026
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