Manchester City and Liverpool meet again, while Ralf Rangnick looks a spare part

It has been a physically and emotionally draining week for Manchester City. Pep Guardiola says City are “in big trouble” due to injuries picked up in their triumphant draw at the Wanda Metropolitano after Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker were forced off. Phil Foden spent most of the game sporting a bandaged head after a needlessly robust challenge from Felipe. Although some rejigging will be required for the second meeting with Liverpool in a week, the real challenge for Guardiola will be to refresh the team mentally for another season-defining match. The level of focus required at the Etihad on Sunday and in Spain on Wednesday will have been incredibly challenging for the players, many of whom played in both. An FA Cup semi-final is the kind of contest to sharpen the mind, although there will be no rest after. City face two games a week until mid-May so need to manage their bodies and minds carefully for the foreseeable. There can be no slip-ups. WU

Manchester City v Liverpool, Saturday 4.30pm (all times BST)

Continue reading…

You May Also Like

France: 11 missing after fire at holiday home for disabled people

Several casualties after blaze broke out at property in Haut-Rhin, north-east France,…

Covid surge pushes Indonesia’s health system to the brink

Shortages of beds, oxygen and staff reported across island of Java as…

Brazil v Serbia: World Cup 2022 – live

World Cup news from the 7pm GMT / 2pm ET kick-off And…

Skepticism and a shrug: Cubans greet the end of 62 years of Castro rule

People in Havana more concerned about buying chicken suspect little will change…