MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 23: Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Etihad Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images) (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Manchester City's injuries have worsened, with John Stones now a major doubt ahead of their high-stakes encounter against Liverpool. Pep Guardiola is already struggling with the absence of several key players during what could be described as a crisis period for the reigning Premier League champions, who have suffered five consecutive defeats.
Liverpool currently enjoy an eight-point advantage at the top of the Championship, a gap which could extend to eleven points if they triumph over City at Anfield this Sunday.
Guardiola will certainly miss the services of Rodri and Mateo Kovacic, both central midfielders, against Liverpool. Stones, who was reportedly a potential replacement for the midfielder, was absent from Monday's training, casting doubt on his availability for the crucial Liverpool clash.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 23: John Stones of Manchester City during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Stage MD3 match between Manchester City and AC Sparta Praha at City of Manchester Stadium on October 23, 2024 in Manchester , in England. (Photo by Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images) (Image: Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images)
The 30-year-old England defender is also unlikely to feature in Tuesday's Champions League match against Feyenoord, leaving City in dire need of halting their decline before venturing to Merseyside. Stones was notably substituted at half-time during City's embarrassing 4-0 home defeat to Tottenham last Saturday.
The City manager highlighted that injuries have played a key role in slowing down the team, particularly in midfield. “Our main player for transitions, Rodri is not there,” admitted the City coach.
“We cannot survive because with four central defenders I put Manu[el Akanji] or John there, with Ruben [Dias]Nathan [Ake] and Josko [Gvardiol] behind. We would be strong but we don’t have it.”
Guardiola opened up about the tactical dilemmas he faces at Manchester City: “I have to play with [Ilkay] Gondo[gan]who is an attacking midfielder and our best guy to get into the box, but I have to play him as a midfielder because the other midfielder – Kova is injured. And it must be alongside Rico [Lewis] a lot of passes and we have to adapt.”
After Spurs' setback, Guardiola issued a stern warning to his side that they cannot afford another defeat against Liverpool if they are to win their fifth consecutive league title. He acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, admitting: “Yes. In terms of Liverpool winning, winning, winning, it's true.”
The City boss addressed the team's recent struggles, saying: “I don't know what's going to happen, but the reality is here and we have to win games. People say it can't get any worse , but it can get worse.” worse. The exceptional things we have done over the past eight years will not last forever. I said how hard it was to do the things we did – and now people might believe me.
He also acknowledged that the team is currently vulnerable: “We are a little fragile at the moment, but we cannot run away. We have to face it. I would like to say that there is only one reason why we lost three Premier League matches in a row There are many details that we need to correct.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1980929/john-stones-fresh-man-city-injury-doubt-liverpool