Evening Standard
·29 de noviembre de 2024
Evening Standard
·29 de noviembre de 2024
Champions handed much-needed boost ahead of trip to Anfield
Manchester City could welcome Ruben Dias back for their Premier League clash with Liverpool on Sunday.
The defender returned to the bench for Tuesday’s dramatic 3-3 draw with Feyenoord in the Champions League as the crisis continued for Pep Guardiola.
The City boss is on an unprecedented run of poor form and has already conceded defeat at Anfield would spell an end to their hopes of a fifth consecutive title.
Dias could offer City some welcome defensive cover. Guardiola has admitted his team are “fragile” and the Portugal international has missed the last three games, so his return should help shore things up.
John Stones is a major doubt after missing the Feyenoord game, while Mateo Kovacic, Oscar Bobb and Rodri are long-term absentees.
Crisis: Manchester City are six games without a victory
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Such is the importance of the game, perhaps Kevin De Bruyne could be afforded his first start in weeks after making cameo appearances off the bench recently. Jeremy Doku remains a doubt, too.
Speaking before the game, Guardiola refused to be drawn on the chances of welcoming injured players back.
“We’ll see today. Today we will see,” he told a press conference on Friday.
Man City predicted XI: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Gundogan, Silva, De Bruyne; Foden, Haaland, Grealish
Injured: Stones, Kovacic, Bobb, Rodri
Time and date: 4pm GMT on Sunday 1 December 2024
Venue: Anfield
TV channel and live stream: Sky Sports