Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Jeremy Doku has developed a muscular issue ahead of Manchester City’s big game against Liverpool.
Doku did not make City‘s matchday roster for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 clash against FC Copenhagen on Wednesday night.
The Citizens head to Anfield on Sunday for what may be the most important game of their season, with the teams separated by only one point at the top of the Premier League table.
Victory would put them first and unquestionably make them the clear favourites for the title ahead of Liverpool and Arsenal.
However, they may be without wildcard winger Doku, whose absence from the Copenhagen encounter was clarified by Guardiola before kickoff:
“He had some muscular problems, so we didn’t want to take the risk.”
Doku missed eight matches in December due to a muscular injury, including City’s successful Club World Cup campaign.
The Belgian international, who joined Manchester City from Rennes last summer, has four goals and six assists in 29 appearances this season.
Guardiola made seven changes to the team that rallied from behind to defeat Manchester United on Sunday.
Only Ederson, Nathan Ake, Rodri, and Erling Haaland remained in the starting XI, with the Citizens leading 3-1 after the first leg in Denmark.
‘In football, anything can happen, and we must be mindful of that,’ the manager said.
‘We appreciate Copenhagen and the way they play. The Champions League is the Champions League.
‘The best eight teams in Europe will advance to the following round. We have a chance to make the quarterfinals again, and that is our goal. We’re not far from that.
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