Manchester City faces yet another hurdle ahead of their pivotal Premier League clash against Liverpool next Sunday. Pep Guardiola’s squad has been grappling with a string of poor results, culminating in a disheartening 0-4 loss to Tottenham Hotspur. This latest defeat marks their fifth consecutive loss across all competitions, a streak that has put them under immense pressure in the title race. City now trails Liverpool by eight points, leaving little room for error in the coming fixtures.
Adding to their woes, City has been hit hard by injuries this season. The team suffered a significant setback when Ballon d’Or winner Rodri was ruled out for the rest of the season due to an ACL injury. With several other players already sidelined, Guardiola now faces the prospect of losing another critical member of his squad for the Anfield showdown: John Stones.
According to the *Liverpool Echo*, Stones’ availability for Sunday’s high-stakes encounter is in doubt after he missed training ahead of City’s Champions League fixture against Feyenoord. The England international was substituted at halftime during the defeat to Tottenham, sparking concerns about his fitness. As one of City’s most reliable defenders, Stones’ potential absence would be a significant blow. Guardiola will undoubtedly be hoping for positive news about the 30-year-old’s condition as his team prepares for a defining week.
City’s injury list is already substantial, with Oskar Bobb and Mateo Kovacic also unavailable. However, there is some good news for Guardiola as Ruben Dias and Jeremy Doku returned to training after missing the Spurs defeat. Their recovery could provide some much-needed stability to a squad struggling to find form.
Stones’ possible absence extends beyond defensive concerns. Despite being a centre-back, he has been remarkably effective in front of goal this season, scoring three times—making him City’s joint-second top scorer. This puts him ahead of several attacking players, including Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, and Jack Grealish. Stones’ ability to contribute in both defensive and offensive situations, particularly during set pieces, has been invaluable. His unavailability would leave City without a critical asset at both ends of the pitch.
While City deals with their injury setbacks, Liverpool is also managing fitness issues, meaning both teams are likely to be understrength for Sunday’s clash. Despite the competitive stakes, fans of both sides will hope for fewer injury disruptions as the season progresses. For City, Stones’ absence would be a significant loss, and the team will be eager to see him recover in time for one of the most crucial games of their campaign.
