Pep Guardiola says key duo Benjamin Mendy and Kevin De Bruyne could be available for Sunday’s crunch Premier League clash with Liverpool.
The Reds host the champions at Anfield for a vital encounter this weekend, hoping to win a sixth match in a row at home to the Cityzens.
Both teams have accumulated 19 points from their opening seven league games in 2018/19, with City topping the table on goal difference currently.
Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Naby Keita is Liverpool’s only injury doubt ahead of the game, having been stretched off with a back issue against Napoli, with Adam Lallana returning to full training this week.
Guardiola was also on press conference duty on Friday, providing an update on who he expects to have in his squad this weekend.
Both Mendy and De Bruyne, influential presences on and off the pitch, look set to make their return after spells on the sidelines.
“Benjamin Mendy trained with us today and is in contention (for Sunday),” Guardiola told reporters.
On De Bruyne, Guardiola said that the influential midfielder “made part of the training today. He’s training with us.”
De Bruyne’s inclusion would be particularly surprising, with the Belgian initially expected to be out for between and three months after picking up a knee injury in training a week into the season.
Apart from the absent Fabian Delph, City have an otherwise clean bill of health – Ilkay Gundogan may face a last-minute fitness test – as they look to avenge last season’s 4-3 and 3-0 losses on Merseyside, in the Premier League and Champions League respectively.
Former Liverpool man Raheem Sterling is expected to start, with past returns to his former club not going well for him, while in-form Sergio Aguero is searching for his first-ever goal at Anfield.
Such is the depth at City’s disposal, predicting the lineup Guardiola opts for is almost impossible, but the Reds will be tested to the hilt, regardless.
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