Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola delivered a mixed bag of fitness updates ahead of Sunday’s pivotal Premier League clash with Liverpool at Anfield, confirming the return of key defender Ruben Dias while signalling a cautious wait for John Stones and Bernardo Silva.
The most significant boost comes in central defence, where Ruben Dias is available for selection after a month-long absence.
The Portuguese international, who last featured on January 4, returned to the squad as an unused substitute for the midweek Carabao Cup victory over Newcastle and has since trained normally.
“He’s back, we’ll see if he plays any minutes, but good news for us,” Guardiola stated, indicating Dias could feature in a match where his leadership is highly valued.
In further positive news for the backline, John Stones has finally returned to full first-team training. The England defender, who has been sidelined since early December with a thigh problem, participated in his first session with the squad on Thursday.
Guardiola emphasised, however, that Stones’s comeback will be gradual. “John made yesterday the first training session with the team. He’s step by step coming back,” the manager said, effectively ruling him out of immediate contention for Sunday’s fixture.
The situation remains less clear for midfielder Bernardo Silva. The Portuguese captain missed the Newcastle match with a knock and his availability for the trip to Liverpool hangs in the balance.
When pressed on the matter, Guardiola offered a straightforward assessment: “I don’t know yet. Tomorrow in training,” leaving his inclusion dependent on a late fitness check.
Beyond the injury updates, Guardiola reaffirmed his faith in star striker Erling Haaland, who was rested in midweek. “Erling is the best striker in the world. I don’t know until tomorrow [if he starts]. But all I say is Erling is the best,” Guardiola declared, strongly hinting at the Norwegian’s return to the starting lineup for the Anfield encounter.
Looking ahead to the formidable challenge of facing Liverpool at Anfield, a stadium where Guardiola has secured only one victory with fans present, the City boss showed his customary respect for the opposition.
“They remain an exceptional team. Top-class manager and an exceptional team, no doubt… Always a tough opponent and a difficult place and stadium,” he remarked, acknowledging the enduring quality of Liverpool despite their current season’s challenges.
With his team potentially nine points adrift of league leaders Arsenal by kick-off, Guardiola understands the importance of the occasion, noting that in such high-stakes environments, “it is about how you behave… That defines the good players and, as much you have, it defines the good teams”.