Pep Guardiola has suggested that Nathan Ake, Aymeric Laporte and Rodri could return in time to face Liverpool next week.
City have seen plenty more of their squad head off for the World Cup than Liverpool. Whereas Jurgen Klopp only had to sweat over seven of his players, Guardiola saw 16 of his squad try their luck in Qatar.
Now, speaking to mancity.com ahead of Thursday’s game, Pep suggested that his will be reflected in the team he is able to send out vs the Reds.
“At the moment, we have four or five players, and we will have to wait and see how the others come back. But we just don’t have players because the big brains of football decided this schedule and we are going to play this game [against Liverpool],” he decried.
“Some players are coming back now and in the next few days and step by step, they will re-join their team-mates here. People are coming back soon. Nathan [Ake], Aymer [Laporte], and Rodri, and later the players from the England and Portugal teams.”
Unfortunately for Liverpool, the irrepressible Erling Haaland is one of those expected to play. With Norway missing out on the World Cup altogether, the 21-year-old has spent the last six weeks preparing for this game. Gulp.
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Although Guardiola is lamenting his luck, it’s still likely that City will be able to put out a pretty good team on Thursday. The Spaniard does boast the most expensively assembled squad of all time after all.
Regardless, Liverpool’s XI should be stronger. The Reds have benefitted from the likes of Thiago Alcantara and Mohamed Salah not featuring at all in Qatar.
Meanwhile Darwin Nunez is already back, too. The Uruguayan picked up where he left off at Liverpool with a double last night against AC Milan.
Nunez’s return should mean that Jurgen Klopp is able to call on his first choice forward line at the Etihad. Although with a trip to Aston Villa to come on Monday, the manager may still rotate.
A match against City is never the best time to get experimental, though. Given City’s struggles in fielding a full XI, this is also a very good chance to knock them out of the Carabao Cup.
Having won the trophy in four of the last five years, that isn’t something that happens often to Pep’s side. If Liverpool can land a blow next week, they’ll fancy their chances of retaining their title. Judging by this early team news, it’s a good chance for the Reds do just that.
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