Manchester City trip to Anfield have been unsettled by concerns over the fitness of captain Bernardo Silva, whose availability remains uncertain following a problem sustained in recent days.
The Portuguese midfielder, a near-ever present for Pep Guardiola this term, was absent from the midweek victory over Newcastle United and is now racing against time to be ready for Sunday’s meeting with Premier League champions Liverpool.
Silva appeared to suffer the issue during the dramatic 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur and has not trained fully since.
His omission from the side that secured a place in the Carabao Cup final immediately sparked fears that City could be without one of their most influential figures at a defining stage of the campaign.
Manchester City trip to Anfield is crucial, knowing their margin for error in the title race has all but disappeared after a run of inconsistent results since January.
Guardiola’s side have dropped points in five of their last six league fixtures, a sequence that has allowed rivals to open up daylight at the summit.
Manchester City trip to Anfield has rarely been a happy hunting ground for the Catalan coach, who has tasted victory there only once during his City reign – a success that came five years ago in an empty stadium.
With Liverpool in formidable form, the prospect of facing them without Silva represents a significant setback.
Speaking after the win over Newcastle, Guardiola offered a cautious update on his skipper’s condition and admitted the situation remained unclear.
“Could be okay are not the words. He is an incredible doubt. He will try, I know him, he will try but he is an incredible doubt,” he said per Manchester Evening News
“We’ll see. Yesterday he said to me, I don’t feel quite good, I want to try. It’s a position that is less dangerous than a hamstring, it’s another type of muscle, but we’ll see.”
Those comments underline both Silva’s determination to be involved and the uncertainty that continues to surround his recovery.
The midfielder has started the last 16 league matches and has been central to City’s attempts to rediscover their rhythm after a turbulent winter. Losing his experience and tactical intelligence for such a pivotal contest would force Guardiola into a significant reshuffle.
Despite the anxiety over Silva, there were encouraging signs elsewhere in the squad during the midweek outing at St James’ Park.
Tijjani Reijnders enhanced his claims for a regular starting role with a dynamic display against Newcastle, producing one of his most assured performances since arriving at the club.
The Dutchman’s energy and composure on the ball have impressed coaching staff, and he will be pushing hard to retain his place alongside established names such as Phil Foden and the versatile Rayan Cherki.
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Guardiola must now decide how bold to be at Anfield. With the stakes so high, the temptation will be to rely on players with experience of the fixture, yet the form of recent weeks suggests fresh legs may be required.
Reijnders’ emergence, combined with the return of Rodri’s authority in front of the defence, gives City a platform from which to cope should Silva ultimately be ruled out.
The manager also has decisions to make further forward. Omar Marmoush seized his opportunity against Newcastle by scoring twice and offering a constant threat in behind the opposition back line.
His clinical finishing has strengthened the competition for places in attack, particularly with Erling Haaland appearing sharp after his cameo from the bench.
Antoine Semenyo, another recent arrival, has added further variety with his ability to operate either centrally or on the flanks.
The former Bournemouth forward has quickly adapted to Guardiola’s demands and provides an alternative profile to City’s more established options.
Such depth will be essential over the coming weeks as fixtures in three competitions begin to overlap.
