‘Disturbing’ - Pep Guardiola gives worrying Man City triple injury update amid Liverpool battle
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Pep Guardiola admitted Kevin De Bruyne is playing with a 'disturbing' ankle injury amid Manchester City's Premier League title battle with Liverpool.
The pair remain separated by a point as the season reaches a crescendo.
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Hide AdCity thrashed Watford 5-1 on Saturday before the Reds battled to a 2-0 Merseyside derby win over Everton yesterday.
Keeping key players fit will be imperative for both sides as they once again scrap for the top-flight silverware.
But Guardiola confessed talisman De Bruyne is playing through the pain barrier.
What’s been said
The Etihad Stadium boss said in his post-match press conference: “I have 14/15 players fit and the last few games Kevin and Aymer [Laporte] play a lot of minutes.
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Hide Ad“Kevin, it doesn’t look like it, but he is playing with some disturbing niggles in his ankles for the kicks he got in the last games.
“Of course, at 4-1, I am thinking about that. It is not just Madrid it’s Leeds as well. You have seen the schedule.
“That is why in that moment I am thinking the game is almost over and I give rest in the last minutes to the players who have played a lot of minutes.
“We don't have lots of central defenders that is why Nathan [Ake] played with a big problem in his ankle.”
Stones and Walker injury latest
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Hide AdMeanwhile, John Stones and Kyle Walker missed the Watford win and Guardiola's unsure when they will return to fitness.
He added: “We don't have many options.
“We don’t have full-backs. I don’t know when Kyle will arrive. We will see. Joao [Cancelo] is out {against Real Madrid in the Champions League due to suspension] and John will be difficult to get through.”
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