MANCHESTER CITY BOSS Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Ederson will miss a huge Premier League encounter against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday through injury.
The Premier League’s top two sides are due to meet for the first time this season at the weekend, with six points currently separating them in the table.
Liverpool have gained a healthy advantage after winning ten of their first 11 fixtures, but City can make up significant ground with a win on Merseyside.
Ederson will not be between the sticks for Guardiola’s side though, after failing to shake off a muscular issue suffered on Champions League duty.
The Brazilian was forced to come off at half-time during City’s 1-1 draw with Atalanta on Wednesday, with Claudio Bravo drafted in as his replacement.
Guardiola issued an update on Ederson’s fitness at a press conference on Friday, before insisting Bravo is more than capable of filling the void left by a key performer.
“Ederson is not able to play. I don’t know how long he will be out for. Sunday, he cannot play,” said the Spanish boss.
“We have another top keeper. Claudio Bravo can do it too. We won the Carabao Cup thanks to Claudio. He’s an exceptional keeper.
“Why should I doubt any player in my team. Why do you ask these questions?
“You have to respect this guy, he has won trophies and Copa América. In his first season, the team was not at the top level.”
Bravo was sent off late on against Atalanta after brining down Josip Ilicic when he raced through on goal, which left Guardiola with no choice but to allow an outfield player to don the gloves.
Kyle Walker assumed the responsibility and fared admirably, making a couple of crucial saves to deny the Italian outfit a dramatic winning goal.
Fortunately for City, Bravo’s three-match suspension will only apply to European matches, leaving him free to line up against Liverpool, but there may be some concern over his sharpness.
The Chilean shot-stopper has yet to feature for the English champions in the Premier League this term and did not manage a single appearance during the team’s successful title defence in 2018-19 either.
City must avoid defeat at Anfield to stop Liverpool moving one step closer to a first Premier League crown, with another tough fixture against Chelsea on the horizon after the international break.
- Omni
