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Manchester City injury latest and return dates ahead of Premier League clash with Liverpool
Manchester City continued their fine Champions League form with a 4-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night.
Phil Foden netted a brace while Erling Haaland and sub Rayan Cherki were also on target to lift City up to fourth in the League Phase table. The Blues now turn their attention to a titanic Premier League clash with Liverpool on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola was unable to call on midfielder Rodri for the midweek win and it remains to be seen whether the Spaniard will be fit enough to feature against Arne Slot's men. Mateo Kovacic is certain absentee with City suffering from injuries in the middle of midfield, where Nico Gonzalez has stepped into the breach.
Here's the injury latest from the Etihad.
Rodri
Injury: Fitness
The midfielder's stop-start season continued after he was left out of the squad for the Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund.
The Spain international 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 the 29-year-old was unable to feature against Dortmund and it remains to be seen when he will be able to string a series of starts together.
Speaking ahead of the game with the Bundesliga side, Guardiola said of Rodri's absence: “He doesn’t feel perfect, so that’s why we don’t take a risk.
"He will come back… this little, little, little setback makes me realise everything, that we need a little more time to feel good and play football – doesn’t matter if he plays good or bad – knowing that he’s fine and he will not be out for a while.”
Potential return date: Liverpool (H) November 9
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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