Man Cityvs.Liverpool

Haaland picked up a minor knee injury in the closing stages of City's 4-0 win over Newcastle United last Saturday, and although he was spotted in training earlier this week, he had "discomfort walking" according to Guardiola.

The Norwegian subsequently watched on as an unused substitute as the Citizens suffered a 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League playoff on Wednesday, losing 6-3 on aggregate.

Stones, meanwhile, started in defence at the Santiago Bernabeu, but he limped off in the eighth minutes with a thigh injury after extending his leg when passing the ball.

The 30-year-old, who has been hampered with injury issues throughout his time at Man City, recently recovered from a foot problem that kept him out for almost a month, but he is now facing another lengthy period on the sidelines.

Stones may require surgery, Haaland a doubt for Liverpool clash

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Guardiola said: "[Stones is] injured - a difficult one. In the next hours, days we'll know if he needs surgery or not... Yeah [a long period out], like Manuel Akanji."

It initially seemed that Stones had suffered a knee injury against Real Madrid, but Guardiola has confirmed that the defender has in fact sustained an injury to the front of "his thigh".

Should Stones require surgery and face a similar period on the sidelines to Akanji, who is out for eight to 10 weeks after undergoing abductor surgery, Man City supporters may not see the Englishman back in action until mid-April at the earliest.

Asked if Haaland could return on Sunday, Guardiola said: "I don't know yet. Tomorrow we'll know it, I don't know yet. Yeah, maybe [I'm hopeful], but I don't know because we don't train today, until tomorrow he will have a [late fitness] test."

The potential absence of Haaland would presumably see Omar Marmoush, who scored a hat-trick in the 4-0 win over Newcastle last weekend, lead the line, although Savinho surprisingly joined the Egyptian in a central role against Real Madrid in midweek.

"Never ever is it personal": Guardiola offers De Bruyne update

Guardiola has also discussed the availability of Kevin De Bruyne, who has watched on as an unused substitute in Man City's last two matches against Newcastle and Real Madrid.

The Catalan coach has confirmed that De Bruyne has not been nursing an injury and it was a tactical decision to leave him out of the team.

"Decisions. My decision," said Guardiola. "Yeah, of course [he can still play in big games], he played against Real Madrid at home, of course he can play."

"The relationship with De Bruyne is exceptional," he added. "I can't be thankful enough for what he's done for me, the team, everyone. It's just a decision.

"Normally I don't speak with players, not just Kevin, on why they don't play. They don't ask me why when I decide to let them play from the beginning or during. It's just a decision from what I've seen, for many reasons, a few.

"Never ever is it personal, never ever I'm upset. Also Jeremy [Doku] didn't play and his last game was at Ipswich, played unbelievably, and after was injured.

"But maybe for the demands, the way we now need to play because of the absences or strengths that we have and physicality and many things, we need a game of more control and not up and down. Don't tell me why. It's not personal, I decide the decisions, that's all, no more than that."

De Bruyne is in contention to return to Man City's starting lineup on Sunday, with Guardiola's men seeking to cement their place in the top four with a victory over a Liverpool side sitting a staggering 17 points above them at the summit.

Written by

Oliver Thomas