Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola has admitted that midfield mainstay Bernardo Silva faces a race against time to be ready for Sunday’s pivotal Premier League showdown against Liverpool. The Portuguese international played a role in City’s recent 3-1 victory over Newcastle United, a result that secured their progression to the Carabao Cup final. However, the physical toll of that midweek encounter has left the versatile playmaker’s availability in serious jeopardy as the squad prepares to travel to Merseyside to face the reigning champions.
The City medical staff is currently monitoring a specific muscular issue that appeared following the victory at the Etihad Stadium. While the injury does not involve the hamstring directly, it affects a neighboring muscle group, creating a complex recovery timeline for the 31-year-old. Guardiola noted that Silva remains eager to participate in the high-stakes clash, but the technical team refuses to risk a long-term setback by rushing him back into the starting lineup prematurely. The next 48 hours will prove decisive as the club conducts late fitness tests to determine if Silva can play any part in the match.
Silva’s potential absence represents a significant tactical hurdle for Manchester City, given his relentless work rate and creative influence in high-pressure away fixtures. With the title race entering a critical phase, Guardiola must now weigh the benefit of Silva’s inclusion against the possibility of a more severe rupture. The manager remains uncertain about the midfielder’s status, emphasizing that the player’s own optimism might not be enough to clear him for the intense physical demands of an Anfield visit.
Reflecting on his private conversation with the player and the ambiguity of the injury, Pep Guardiola stated:
“Yesterday he said to me, ‘I feel quite good. I want to try’. But I don’t know. It’s in a position less dangerous than the hamstring, another type of muscle in the hamstring position. But we’ll see in the next days. ‘Could be OK’, is not the words. He’s an incredible doubt. He will try, I think so, knowing him, he will try. But right now, I don’t know…”
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