Pep Guardiola has claimed Manchester City has been unable to compete with Liverpool this season due to injuries as he has not had the option of selecting a ‘stable team’.
Absentees have been a major issue for City this campaign, with Rodri missing almost the entirety of the season so far. The likes of Ruben Dias, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden have also struggled with fitness issues this term.
It’s part of the reason the champions currently sit 20 points behind Liverpool in the Premier League table, although injuries alone cannot explain City’s huge drop off in 12 months.
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“I don't know what would have happened if everyone was here,” Guardiola said after his team was beaten 2-0 by Liverpool at the Etihad on Sunday. “I don't know if Liverpool would be able to win the Premier League. They are a fantastic team and they are similar in details.
"They have had no injuries and that is why they could be a stable team and we could not do it. And it is what it is. You cannot achieve what you want all the time. I know how difficult it will be to qualify for the Champions League.”
Yet Guardiola’s assertion that Liverpool has had no injury issues is wide of the mark. While the Reds’ injuries issues have not been as widespread as City’s, Arne Slot has still had to deal with long periods without Alisson, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez, Harvey Elliott and Diogo Jota, while the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo have missed shorter periods with knocks.
Guardiola’s assessment also overlooks Slot’s ability to subtly rest and rotate his squad, with The Athletic reporting earlier this month that the Dutchman’s injury record was a key factor in him being hired from Feyenoord last summer. The outlet adds Slot and his team have implemented longer but less intense training sessions, wellness checks and more individualized programmes to help the squad maintain fitness levels.
Returning to City injuries, Guardiola seemed to imply his side would have been in a better place to compete with Liverpool on Sunday had it been able to call upon several key players.
“I don't want to say if we had Erling Haaland we would have won because that is unfair on the players who played today and gave everything. Of course, with Erling we are a better team. With Rodri we are a better team. With John Stones and Akanji we are a better team and for many reasons with other players we are a better team.”
