Gvardiol and Walker out, Gundogan vs De Bruyne - Inside Guardiola's Man City dilemma vs Liverpool

The injury situation is getting better, but the form is nosediving. Manchester City players who have dragged the side through the injury crisis look shot of fitness and confidence, yet they will still be needed to help the returning players get up to speed.

After throwing away a 3-0 lead against Feyenoord, City take their battered squad to Liverpool for a Premier League showdown that could all-but end their title hopes. They will have to rip up the form book if they want to avoid a fourth-straight league defeat for the first time in 17 years.

Pep Guardiola's options are limited, but he does have some wiggle room in his teamsheet. It will just require some bold decisions and high profile risks.

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Here, we look at Guardiola's selection dilemmas ahead of Liverpool vs Man City:

Walker vs Lewis

Rico Lewis started the season in brilliant form, but a necessary reliance on the 20-year-old has seen his form plummet. Playing two or three positions at once has caught up with him and opposition sides are targeting his right hand side these days.

Yet despite a shaky performance against Spurs last week, it was Lewis who retained his place and Kyle Walker who dropped out against Feyenoord after being outpaced for Tottenham's brutal fourth goal. Walker remained on the bench throughout the Champions League collapse.

Lewis may be needed further forward - more on that later - but Walker equally seems out of favour and out of form. Guardiola must decide whether to recall his captain in a game that will require composure and that pace to have returned. There are pros and cons for starting both right-backs at Anfield.

Ake vs Gvardiol

Josko Gvardiol has featured in every game this season and it's catching up with him. Four mistakes leading to goals in two games prompted a huge response from Pep Guardiola, who said: "It will be a good experience. The way he has played - he was the best player on the pitch but I will be so wrong if I point specific thing for our defeat. He is young and he will learn. He is a fantastic player, fantastic boy and now more than ever must be helped."

The prospect of a confidence-hit Gvardiol against an in-form Mo Salah is a daunting one, so perhaps it is time to take him out of the spotlight and move Nathan Ake over to left-back. Ake is brilliant in one-on-one defending, but this would rely on having either Ruben Dias or John Stones available alongside Manu Akanji.

Dias returned to the bench against Feyenoord but didn't make his return, while Stones' inclusion is unlikely given he was missing from that squad all together. Gvardiol may have to continue.

Gundogan vs Lewis vs Bernardo

Guardiola took Gundogan off after a much-needed goal thinking the Feyenoord game was safe. It wasn't. He is the only player capable of offering some sort of resistance at number six with Mateo Kovacic and Rodri out, so he looks set to continue. The question is, who helps him out?

Bernardo can play as a supporting number eight, while Lewis can push into midfield. Guardiola has bemoaned the lack of options in defensive midfield due to injuries, with Stones and Akanji other candidates to step forward when everyone is fit. But they are either not available or needed for other roles.

If City want to avoid getting run through in midfield again, getting the balance right alongside Gundogan will be key.

De Bruyne vs Foden

Is it finally time for Kevin De Bruyne to return from the start? The Belgian hasn't started since September and has come off the bench towards the end in the last four games but hasn't made his full comeback since limping off vs Inter Milan.

Phil Foden looked better vs Feyenoord however he is yet to shine in the Premier League this term. If De Bruyne was back, Foden could move out wide and simply focus on attacking.

This all has knock-on effects for other forwards. Does Jack Grealish keep his place? Does Savinho get a recall? Is Jeremy Doku fit to return? Has Matheus Nunes done enough to start after playing centrally vs Feyenoord, after some good performances on the left?

There are options, but between a number of inconsistent or out-of-form forwards.