Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has confirmed Ruben Dias will not be available for Sunday’s crunch Premier League clash with Liverpool at the Etihad.
The meeting between the two teams comes with only eight games remaining in the league season and is nestled between an FA Cup semi-final meeting and the Champions League quarter-finals.
The 24-year-old has been sidelined since March 1 with a hamstring injury and has subsequently missed City’s last six matches across all competitions.
He was a doubt after he missed their last three league matches, as well as their recent Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid. Now, Guardiola has confirmed he will once again be sidelined at the weekend.
“Everyone is fit. Not Ruben,” Guardiola confirmed in his pre-match press conference on Friday, with the centre-back’s absence due to a hamstring injury to extend beyond a month.
City have coped well in the defender’s absence, winning four and drawing two of their last six matches in all tournaments, conceding only two goals in the process.
John Stones, Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake are all in contention to start at centre-back against Jurgen Klopp’s side, with the former two seemingly the most likely to get the nod by Guardiola.
In reaction to the news, many Man City fans have been expressing their thoughts and opinions.
“No worries we’ve got Nathan Ake.”
Credit: @misfermo2
“We knew that anyway, will be fine.”
Credit: @Hedghog111
“This is sad… But we keep moving.”
Credit: @CityLife433
“No surprise here, get well soon Ruben 💙.”
Credit: @gcertifedd
“Laporte and stones will carry us.”
Credit: @MCFCADAM1234
“Annoying but hopefully Stones and Laporte can do the job.”
Credit: @amir7iqbal_amir
“Laporte and Ake or Laporte and Stones for the game?.”
Credit: @Laporte_Szn14
“Laporte and stones will easy pocket their front three with ease.”
Credit: @mcfc_ziyad
“Stones x Ake please.”
Credit: @Fives702
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