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Micah Richards believes Manchester City's Premier League title hopes have been dashed due to Rodri's injury, which will keep him sidelined until October.
The Ballon d'Or winner spent most of last season on the sidelines after suffering an ACL rupture in September. The Spaniard's woes continued with a groin injury at the FIFA Club World Cup, ruling him out until next month's international break, if not longer.
Despite heavy spending in January and again in the summer to compete with Arne Slot's Liverpool, City failed to secure any silverware. However, former City defender Richards insists that Rodri remains crucial to the team's success.
"If Rodri would have been fit, I think they could have gone to the wire, but it doesn't look like he's going to be fit until maybe October," said the Sky Sports analyst.
"I think that changes the narrative with them, just because he's pivotal in what they do in terms of stopping counter-attacks.
"But Tijjani Reijnders from Milan is a really good player, he can play in No. 6, he can play in No. 8 as well, he's scored a couple of goals in pre-season.
"So I'd look at that area of the pitch, the boy Nico Gonzalez last season, it's not really happened for him in that Number 6 role, he's more of a No. 8.
"Rayan Cherki as well, he's a player who can impact the game, can play at No. 10, can play the right, can play the left, wonderful left foot, he's both foot, he takes corners with his right foot and his left foot,
"Liverpool will be there, I think they will be my favorites this year. I think Chelsea look strong after watching the Club World Cup.
"And we've been talking about Arsenal for a while now in terms of needing a striker, I still think they're a little bit short on the left-hand side. I think Martinelli's an impact player rather than a starter."
Jamie Carragher, fellow Sky pundit, also anticipates a competitive title race, cautioning that Liverpool won't easily clinch the title... even if they sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle.
He said: "I think they are still likely to get Isak, but I don't get this narrative that Liverpool are going to run away with it.
"I think we will have a title race.
"If you look at history, it tells you that it's not just about having the best players, it's about having the best team, and making that balance right, and at the weekend (the Community Shield) it didn't quite look right."
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