Arsenal and Liverpool handed Premier League title boost as Pep Guardiola faces crisis
Arsenal and Liverpool are chasing down Premier League leaders Manchester City, and Pep Guardiola could now see his side's hopes of winning the title scuppered by an injury crisis
by Jacob Leeks · The MirrorArsenal and Liverpool have been handed a major boost to their title hopes after Pep Guardiola revealed the full extent of Manchester City's injury crisis.
Guardiola has claimed he is able to call upon just 13 first-team players ahead of Saturday's trip to Bournemouth. Defensive midfielder Rodri ruptured his ACL in September and has been ruled out for the season.
Oscar Bobb will also remain on the sidelines for some time after fracturing his leg in August. Kevin de Bruyne remains out with a thigh injury, along with Kyle Walker, Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish, with that quartet having no official return date.
The crisis got worse on Wednesday, with Manuel Akanji pulling up with a calf issue in the warm up ahead of the Carabao Cup defeat to Spurs. Fellow defender Ruben Dias went off injured at half-time, before Savinho was stretchered off after appearing to hurt his ankle.
That crisis comes with City set to face Bournemouth, Sporting and Brighton before the international break. And Guardiola is now lamenting his luck, with any slip-up over the next week potentially allowing title rivals Arsenal and Liverpool to pull away.
"We have 13 players, we are in real difficulties. The guys that play, they finish most of them with problems and we'll see how they recover. I think we are in trouble," the City boss said.
"In nine years we've never been in the situation with so many injuries. The players make a step forward, more together than ever, and we will try to do this week in this short time of recovery.
"[Savinho] had a knock in the 18-yard box but we will see tomorrow what happened. We have to see if it was just a knock or something else. It was on the bone, so hopefully nothing dangerous, but we will have to see tomorrow.
"Our captain is injured. I don’t think he or Kevin will be back until after the international break. Jack Grealish as well. It’s tough. Akanji felt something in the muscular part of his body - he wanted to take a risk, but we said no, no risk.
"Ruben is struggling sometimes as well. It’s been getting more difficult game by game – maybe we will be all back together at some point. The guys who are here are fighting to be with us, 24 hours a day. I won’t forget this.”
Looking at the official squad list on Manchester City's official website, Guardiola's claim of a depleted squad appears accurate. He will be able to call upon youth-team players, though he currently only has adds up to 13 senior outfield stars.
But that list includes Josh Wilson-Esbrand, who has not made a first-team appearance for the club. City currently sit a point ahead of Liverpool and five clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.
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