Both Manchester City and Liverpool hit with a blow ahead of Sunday’s clash
By Taylor Smith
Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, gave a crucial injury update ahead of Sunday’s crucial clash with Manchester City in the English Premier.
The Liverpool gaffer gave the injury update that many Reds supporters expected to hear, but were still disappointed to receive—Thiago Alcantara was absent from training yesterday and today, and will not win the race to be fit for the Manchester City match.
In his pre-match press conference, Klopp told the media:
"Thiago is probably not ready to return.Maybe it was not 100% clear with what I said. No surgery was needed but it was still an injury. A player can make big improvements one day to next when he has no problems any more, then he can train and that is not the case so far.He is not available for Sunday and that’s it."
More from News
- The Saudi Pro League could be a blessing in disguise for the Premier League
- Carl Jenkinson joins Newcastle Jets from Nottingham Forest
- Wayne Rooney wins first game in charge of DC United
- Blow for Liverpool in the Community Shield 22/23 Showdown With Manchester City
- Arsenal announce signing of Oleksandr Zinchenko from Man City
The Spanish midfielder was always a long shot to be fit, having not played since the October 22 match with Everton. Thiago was on the wrong end of a nasty tackle from Everton’s Richarlison, which earned the latter a straight red card.
The 29-year-old was able to stay on the field and see out the Reds controversial draw with their Merseyside rivals, but he’s been unavailable since then with a knee injury. One has to imagine that Klopp and company pulled the trigger on this transfer for games exactly like this one.
This because the 53year-old manager described playing Manchester City as the “hardest match in the world.” Thiago’s capture was something of a departure from the normal approach to signing players.
Typically, Liverpool targets players 25-years-old and younger, players with transfer market and squad role upside, but Michael Edwards and Liverpool’s transfer guru’s brought Thiago in so they could move from strength to strength and compete for silverware on every front.
Unfortunately for the Merseysiders, they won’t be able to call upon his supreme talents against his former manager, Pep Guardiola.
Man City’s body blow
In Manchester City injury news, Guardiola has ruled out Sergio Aguero for the Liverpool match on Sunday. Like Thiago, Aguero will head into the international break hoping to use that time to gain full fitness and be firing for the crucial festive period in December.
Guardiola fielded his usual questions about the title race and main rivals Liverpool being the favorites for the title. He was typically cagey in his responses, but forthright when asked about his 32-year-old talisman making a return from injury: “He is not ready, not yet.”
Although both squads will not have their full complement of stars at their disposal, both teams come into the match in fine fettle on the backs of comprehensive victories in the UEFA Champions League.
Next. Man City vs. Liverpool Predictions For Sunday. dark
This has the makings of a Match of The Season if both teams play at their best. Neutrals and supporters alike will hope injuries play no further part in proceedings.