Manchester City fans were relieved to see Kevin De Bruyne make the bench as Pep Guardiola rang the changes for their FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool.
Six days after their last meeting, City and Liverpool once again do battle as they fight it out for a place in the FA Cup final at Wembley. And, unlike their meeting at the Etihad last weekend, there has to be a winner.
Both sides of course hold lofty ambitions this season, with City targeting an historic treble, while the Reds can still claim a quadruple, having won the Carabao Cup earlier this year. One team though will have their dreams dashed come full-time.
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Pep Guardiola has a couple of big injury concerns to deal with following the Blues’ gruelling Champions League quarter-final meeting with Atletico Madrid in midweek. The tie ended in chaos at the Wanda Metropolitano, and looks to have cost City two of their stars for this afternoon’s game.
De Bruyne and Kyle Walker both picked up knocks during the goalless draw, and haven’t been risked by their manager for this afternoon’s semi-final. Guardiola will hope he can get both back quickly as the Blues continue their search for a treble this season.
Seemingly still feeling the effects from midweek, the City boss makes a staggering seven changes to his side. In come Zack Steffen, Nathan Ake, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Jack Grealish, Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling, with Walker, De Bruyne, Ederson, Aymeric Laporte, Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez making way.
It's quite the turnaround from Guardiola, who had been expected to make changes to his side. Nevertheless, City fans aren't feeling too confident - although there was a big boost in the sight of De Bruyne making the bench.
Having been unable to find a winner in either of their two league meetings this season, this afternoon’s semi-final could provide a decisive blow to either side’s hopes of further silverware. City will hope their injury problems prove not to be too big an advantage to their title rivals as we reach the business end of the campaign.
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