Pep Guardiola has revealed that Jeremy Doku has picked up a muscular issue ahead of Manchester City’s huge clash at Liverpool.
Doku was not in City’s matchday squad for the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie against FC Copenhagen on Wednesday night.
The Citizens travel to Anfield on Sunday for what could be the biggest game of their season with the sides separated by just one point at the top of the Premier League table.
Victory would put them top and surely make them clear favourites for the title ahead of Liverpool and Arsenal.
But they may be without wildcard winger Doku, whose absence for the Copenhagen match was explained by Guardiola before kick-off.
‘He had some muscular problems so we did not want to take the risk.’
Doku missed eight matches in December with a muscle injury, including City’s triumphant Club World Cup campaign.
The Belgian international is enjoying his first season at the Etihad having joined from Rennes last summer, with four goals and six assists in 29 appearances.
For the Copenhagen game, Guardiola made seven changes from the side that came from behind to beat Manchester United last Sunday.
Only Ederson, Nathan Ake, Rodri and Erling Haaland retained their place in the starting XI, with the Citizens 3-1 up from the first leg in Denmark.
‘In football everything can happen, and we have to be aware of that,’ the manager added.
‘We have respect for Copenhagen and how they play. The Champions League is Champions League.
‘The best eight teams in Europe [will move to the next round]. We have the chance to be in quarter-finals again and this is the target. We’re not far off that.’
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