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Pep Guardiola confirms double Man City injury blow after losing ground to Liverpool

tom malley
·2-min read
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Pep Guardiola has confirmed that defenders John Stones and Ruben Dias will be out for a "long time" as Manchester City was knocked off top spot in the Premier League by Liverpool.

The reigning champion fell to its first defeat of the season with Saturday's 2-1 loss to Bournemouth, where a goal in each half from the host also ended its 32-game unbeaten run in the top flight.

The result allowed Liverpool to move back to the top of the Premier League with a 2-1 victory over Brighton, seeing the Reds also move two points clear of their biggest title rivals ahead of next weekend's clash with Aston Villa.

Ahead of today's clash on the south coast, however, Guardiola revealed a major injury setback for his side after Stones and Dias became the latest players to enter the treatment room, joining the likes of Jack Grealish, Rodri and Oscar Bobb.

In his interview ahead of City's trip to Bournemouth, the Spaniard said: "Ruben Dias and John Stones are ruled out for little bit of long time."

Their absences left Guardiola starting Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake at center-back, with young full-back Rico Lewis the only recognised defender on the bench for the visitors.

John Stones and Ruben Dias have been ruled out until after the international break
John Stones and Ruben Dias have been ruled out until after the international break

Things could still get worse for the Spaniard, however, with top scorer Erling Haaland seen limping around the Vitality Stadium pitch during today's game. The Norwegian appeared to be in some pain as he tried to run off a knock to his foot, clearly looking uncomfortable.

But City's latest injury crisis will come as good news for Liverpool, which will fancy its chances against Guardiola's outfit even more when it visits Anfield after the next international break.

For now, however, the Reds have taken full advantage of City's slip up today to go two points clear of it at the top of the Premier League. Arsenal's defeat to Newcastle also sees them move seven points ahead of the Gunners at this early stage of the season.