David Silva is set to miss the Atalanta and Liverpool games as Manchester City’s atrocious injury record gets worse.
Pep Guardiola already knew he would have to make a trip down the M62 the Blues have rarely enjoyed without Aymeric Laporte, Leroy Sane, Rodri and Aleks Zinchenko due to various injuries. Three of those would have expected to start if fit, while Sane scored the crucial winner the last time the teams played in the league.
And the signs are not good for Silva, who complained of a muscle problem towards the end of the first half against Southampton and is expected to be out for 10-12 days.
Speaking about the problem, Guardiola said: “I didn't speak with the doctor but when he has a muscular problem and cannot play more minutes it is because he has something and when it is a muscular problem it is always a minimum of 10-12 days.”
That would leave the City boss without two of his first-choice trio in midfield - the area of the pitch where City are indisputably better than their main challengers for the Premier League throne.
Bernardo Silva or Phil Foden could step in without affecting the rest of the team, or Fernandinho and Ilkay Gundogan could be brought forward if Guardiola decides to bring another centre-back into the team. There are more unorthodox options too; Raheem Sterling played in the position for a Champions League game last season while Gabriel Jesus replaces Silva against Southampton as City went more attacking.
But it leaves the manager with another unwanted headache as he tries to prepare for arguably their most important game of the season so far.
City are already at a disadvantage in the sense that they play in Italy in midweek a day after Liverpool have been at home in the Champions League. The manager is also well aware of the strong record of the Anfield side - both for the last year-and-a-half generally and for a much longer period against City.
