Manchester City have been dealt injury concerns during the international break as the club battle Arsenal and Liverpool for the Premier League title
The international break has led all three clubs in the Premier League title race to sweat over the prospect of losing key players to injury.
City sit third in the table, a point behind leaders Arsenal, and Pep Guardiola will want a fully fit squad for the final run-in. Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish were left out of their respective international squads as they nursed groin injuries and have been pictured in City training ahead of the team’s clash against Arsenal on Sunday.
There were concerns over Kyle Walker’s fitness as the right-back was substituted with a hamstring problem early on in England’s friendly defeat to Brazil at the weekend. Sky Sports has reported that the injury is not as bad as first feared and that Walker could be fit to face the Gunners in the potentially pivotal clash at the Etihad Stadium.
However, there is now concern over John Stones. The centre-back was taken off inside the first ten minutes of England’s draw with Belgium after feeling discomfort in his left leg. Guardiola will hope it is nothing serious.
City have meanwhile received a double boost from Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias, who have been released from the Portugal squad to help manage their fitness. However, Manuel Akanji did pick up a knock in Switzerland’s friendly with Belgium. Meanwhile, Erling Haaland started both of Norway’s friendlies, despite previous concerns surrounding his fitness.
Arsenal
Bukayo Saka was selected for the England squad but opted to withdraw ahead of the friendly with Brazil as a precaution after feeling a muscle tweak. He was not the only Arsenal player to pull out of the game at Wembley. Defender Gabriel Magalhaes also withdrew from the Brazil squad to rest his Achilles.
Gabriel Martinelli was not selected for Brazil after missing the Gunners’ last two games with a foot injury and the extent of the problem is currently unclear. Elsewhere, Thomas Partey refused a call-up from Ghana as he works back to full fitness.
Takehiro Tomiyasu is using the international break to recover from a calf issue, while Gabriel Jesus will hope to have overcome his recent knee injury. Defender Jurrien Timber is nearing a return after suffering an ACL injury on his league debut.
Liverpool
Liverpool have been handed another injury concern with Andy Robertson limping off for Scotland on Tuesday. The nature and severity of his issue is unclear. The left-back missed 18 previous games due to a shoulder injury earlier this season.
However, Joe Gomez came through England’s games injury-free and there have been other positives including Dominik Szoboszlai scoring for Hungary; Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz registering assists for the respective countries; and Caoimhin Kelleher keeping a clean sheet for the Republic of Ireland.
However, Jurgen Klopp’s side are still coping with an extensive injury list. Striker Darwin Nunez did not join the Uruguay squad after suffering a possible hamstring injury. Curtis Jones is nearing a return after being sidelined since mid-February.
Trent Alexander-Arnold remains a significant absentee for Liverpool and is not expected to return this weekend. Likewise, Diogo Jota and goalkeeper Alisson Becker are scheduled to be out until next month.
Young midfielder Stefan Bajcetic could also return to contention in April. The trio of Thiago Alcantara, Joel Matip and Ben Doak are all dealing with longer-term injury problems.
