Manchester City may have to change their team against Liverpool to take into account their concerns about injuries and fitness after a difficult trip to Madrid this week.
City are unbeaten in their two games against Atletico Madrid, as well as in the Premier League clash with Liverpool in the last 11 days, but have accumulated problems with Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker this week.
Pep Guardiola will be able to turn to Gabriel Jesus, who impressed last week in the Premier League draw against Liverpool, but was penalized for the trip to Madrid, while Ruben Diaz may also return after returning to the bench on Wednesday.
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Liverpool managed to give a break to seven key players for their Champions League match, while City players admitted that they feel the effect of their busy two weeks. However, such as Diaz, Fernandinho, Jesus, Nathan Ake, Rahim Stirling and Jack Grillish were on the bench at Atletico, so they may be able to return.
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Stuart Brennan
The loss of Kyle Walker is a potentially bigger blow than that of De Bruyne, simply because City do not have the number of full-backs. Joao Cancello may need to be replaced, as he did at Atletico, while Ake offers a stronger defense than Alexander Zinchenko.
Diaz may have to be thrown, with Americk Laporte being asked to go again – simply because of his left leg and the fact that he has a clearer injury than John Stones. Even before that, juggling really starts and Fernandinho should get a chance to skip Wembley’s blues, perhaps for the last time, as Rodry is in dire need of a break.
With so many players tired after Wednesday night, it should be better to have a refreshed reserve than to ask the same men to go again as much as possible. And given the fact that City may be in control, Guardiola must break his policy and play Ederson, not Zack Steffen.
Ilkay Gundogan can start again and Bernardo Silva may be forced to clean up the dust and dig one more time, depending on De Bruyne’s outcome. In the front three Jack Grilish should strive, Jesus can add energy in the middle and Stirling should get another chance against his former club.
Composition of Precited City
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Joe Bray
Liverpool will be fresher than City, as they could make changes in the middle of the week, the Blues had to work at full strength, and fears of injury to Guardiola also do not help things. If there are any doubts about a player, they should not start, as City must trust their team and not carry passengers.
Composition of Precited City
Ake was preferred in Atletico’s matches when Kyle Walker did not play, but with obvious threats from the Liverpool winger, it is probably better to attract Zinchenko for a little more balance. Diaz can come in to give Laporte a break and keep that line fresh.
Even if Fernandinho is available, the first priority should be to start Rodri in matches like this, and the top three should be made up of the three strongest players. This means Grillish, Jesus and Stirling. Phil Foden and Riyad Marez can get off the bench so City can get the most out of them.
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