Why Ederson is on Man City bench as Stefan Ortega starts and Pep Guardiola explains Liverpool call

Pep Guardiola has started Stefan Ortega for the crucial Premier League game at Liverpool instead of Ederson.

Ortega is one of three Manchester City changes from the side that drew 3-3 with Feyenoord on Tuesday night, and by far the most eyebrow-raising. This is his first league start of the season and his first game since the league cup defeat to Tottenham at the end of October.

Ederson was culpable for at least one goal in the Feyenoord collapse including rushing out of his net for the third, and also gave away a penalty in City's last trip to Anfield to cede control of a game that City had been winning. Ortega came on then and helped to steady the ship.

READ MORE: Live match updates from Man City at Liverpool

READ MORE: I noticed a Pep change before Liverpool game - and it means City have a crisis

However, the Brazilian has been one of City's best players this season while those in front of him have struggled to hit their usual heights. Dropping him for such an enormous match will raise questions about whether he is still viewed as No.1 at the club, especially given it was confirmed beforehand that the decision was tactical rather than down to injury.

Speaking about the decision, Guardiola said: "We just wanted to change something. Eddy has saved a lot of goals for us. He's saved one-against-ones many, many times, but I decided to pick Stefan today.

"Both are incredibly top goalkeepers, they're both incredible with their feet and in one-v-ones. Since he arrived, we've had two incredible goalkeepers."

City kick off the game eight points behind league leaders Liverpool, with the manager and his players having already warned that 11 points would probably be too much to make up to an Arne Slot side that has been a winning machine so far. Victories for Arsenal and Chelsea this weekend and a draw for Brighton have moved them ahead of the Blues, meaning they kick off in fifth place but can return to second with a win.