Predicting a victory over leaders Liverpool on Saturday, Man City will try to capitalize on any mistakes made by their rivals on Sunday.
For Sunday’s derby against Manchester United, Man City may be missing Josko Gvardiol and Jack Grealish.
Pep Guardiola’s team is vying for the Premier League title, and the Blues are the favorites going into the big game. On the other hand, both sides enter the game fresh off FA Cup victories in midweek.
Tuesday night, in a 6-2 victory over Luton Town, Erling Haaland stole the show with five goals. Then on Wednesday, a Casemiro header helped the Reds defeat Nottingham Forest in the closing moments.
If City wants to keep up their current winning streak, they will have to do it without Grealish. Due to a recurrence of the groin issue that sidelined him earlier in the season, the winger left the game early at Kenilworth Road.
During the news conference, Guardiola acknowledged the loss. “I don’t think [he will be back before the internationals],” he said.
“I believe he needs to heal well to be used as much as possible. I haven’t discussed this with the physicians yet. There is another option available to us.
“Setbacks in life are always there, it is how you overcome them.” Gvardiol might be added back to the matchday roster on Sunday.
Due to an ankle ligament tear, the Croatian has not played in the Premier League since the beginning of February. Guardiola stated before the Luton trip: “Josko is good.
“He is training without much pain, but we are training this afternoon (Monday). He hasn’t trained with us yet, but he is almost certain to return.
“We train this afternoon but I think everyone [else] is fine.” Gvardiol was not included on the midweek roster, but after a few more training days, he might be well enough to start on the bench.