Ederson, the Manchester City goalkeeper, has been ruled out of Sunday’s crucial top-of-the-table clash with Liverpool through injury.
Pep Guardiola confirmed on Friday that the 26-year-old will not recover from a thigh problem in time to start at Anfield.
Ederson suffered the injury during the first half of Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Atalanta and was replaced at the break by Claudio Bravo.
Bravo was later sent off for a late challenge on Josip Ilicic, forcing full-back Kyle Walker to deputise in goal, but the Chilean will nevertheless start against Liverpool.
“[Ederson] is not able to play,” Guardiola confirmed. “[Claudio] Bravo can do it.
“We won the Carabao Cup with him. He’s an exceptional ‘keeper, a lot of games with his national team Chile.”
Bravo has not played a Premier League game for City since the final day of the 2017-18 season, when a late win at Southampton ensured Guardiola’s side would finish with 100 points.
The former Barcelona goalkeeper struggled to adapt to English football during his first year at City and was eventually replaced by Ederson during the summer of 2017.
Guardiola launched a robust defence of Bravo, however, insisting that he trusts his backup goalkeeper will not let him down on Sunday.
“Why should I not be confident with my players in my team? I would not like to be a player and my manager doubt me,” he said. ”I saw him every day in the training session, how he fights and how good he is.
“The red card is because we lost a ball in a dangerous position. You have to respect this guy. He won the Copa America. Respect that guy. He’s an incredible top, top ‘keeper.
“First season, it was because the team was not at a top level and not good. Sometimes you make a good save, sometimes not.
“All the players are in our squad because we have incredible confidence in them. We need the whole squad.”
