Ilkay Gundogan is a major doubt for Manchester City’s Premier League clash against Liverpool on Sunday, according to ESPN FC.
The football site claimed on Friday morning that the Germany international, 27, is struggling with the hamstring injury that forced him off the pitch after 68 minutes of City’s Champions League win against Hoffenheim on Tuesday night.
City head to Anfield hoping to end a wretched run of results at the venue, where they have lost 12 and drawn five of their last 17 matches stretching back to their last win there, under Kevin Keegan in 2003.
OPINION
Losing Gundogan would be a major blow to Pep Guardiola’s plan to end City’s horror run at Anfield. Liverpool blew the champions away twice on their home turf last season, once in the Premier League and once in the Champions League. Both were brilliant matches played at a ferocious tempo, and make high demands of the players. If Gundogan is anything less than totally fit for the Sunday showdown, he is unlikely to play. Guardiola, who is unable to call upon Kevin De Bruyne, would almost certainly pair Gundogan with Fernandinho in central midfield if he were passed fit. The German has started seven of City’s nine Premier League and Champions League fixtures this season and is a key member of the starting XI. His distribution, energy and composure are keen to the playing style implemented by Guardiola, and it would be a boost to Liverpool if he misses out.