PEP GUARDIOLA IS uncertain if he will have goalkeeper Ederson available for selection when Manchester City face Liverpool in Sunday’s crunch Premier League encounter.
Ederson was taken off at half-time with a “muscular problem” in City’s chaotic 1-1 draw with Atalanta in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Having not had to make a save in the first half, Ederson was replaced by Claudio Bravo, whose first act was to pick the ball out of his net after Mario Pasalic’s brilliant header cancelled out Raheem Sterling’s early opener.
Matters were made worse for City late on as Bravo saw red for a reckless lunge on Josip Ilicic, meaning right-back Kyle Walker was called upon from the bench to play the closing stages in goal.
City’s focus now turns to Anfield, where Premier League leaders Liverpool would extend the gap at the top to nine points with a victory, and Guardiola acknowledged Ederson may be unable to feature.
“I don’t know right now. It is a muscular problem. It was not big but [we replaced him] to avoid more risk,” Guardiola told reporters when asked for an update on Ederson during a news conference.
“He did not feel comfortable in the last minutes of the first half. That’s why we decided to make a substitution. But for now we don’t know.”
Pointing at his thigh, Guardiola added: “It was muscular, in front of here. He is strong. We want to try with him, but we are not going to take a risk.”
Bravo never looked settled after coming on for the second period and failed to make a save before he became the first substitute goalkeeper in Champions League history to receive a red card.
1 – Claudio Bravo is the first ever substitute goalkeeper to be sent off in Champions League history. Rush. #ATAMCI
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)
However, Guardiola has no concerns over starting Bravo, who protested his red card before the decision was eventually upheld by VAR, at Anfield if Ederson is not fit.
“It’s a red card – it was given so it’s a red card,” Guardiola said. “He’s ready. He’s an incredible, experienced professional. He’s ready.
“It is what it is. If Ederson is ready, he is gong to play. If not we will play Claudio. We trust him. Why should I doubt any players I have in my squad?”
Guardiola also hailed the mentality of Walker, who was immediately called into action to keep out Ruslan Malinovskiy’s free-kick.
“Xavi Mancisidor, our goalkeeper coach, suggested him for his courage, because he is quick,” Guardiola said of the England defender.
“We are lucky we only conceded one shot on target when he was in goal but congratulations for the courage and desire to help the team in this position.”
dunnes have runners with four stripes and 4 is more than 3 so they must be better….
@Liam Meade: well definitely make you go faster anyway. 33% faster
@Seaniecp: ahh, but only if they are go faster stripes Seanie….
@Seaniecp: or would addidas be 25% slower ?
@Liam Meade: yeah Striders man pee all over adidas any day
@Liam Meade: mine are faster because there Red.
O’Neill’s have had three stripes for donkeys years now!
@Darren Bates: only in Ireland though
@Noel Kelly: not in the north of Ireland tho… Just the 26.
You’ll see most northern county jerseys and gear for sale to the public has only 2 stripes
@Aidan Mitchell: I have multiple jerseys from northern counties with 3 stripes so that can’t be true
@Aidan Mitchell: where did you just pull that from?
@Aidan Mitchell: Any O’Neill’s jerseys sent out to Australia only have 2 stripes also
@John Black: Sorry not jerseys shorts or socks. But tracksuits, hoodie, zippys, tshirts, , polo’s…. Go to oneills.com and compare the 6 counties to the 26. No 3 stripes for sale in the 6.
And also look at club gear for international teams in USA, Canada, Australia. Mostly all 2 stripes. Ways around it tho..
@Darren Bates: oneills got away with it by claiming it was a white block with 2 stripes of colour on it istead of it being three stand alone white stripes. However they cant do it outside or roi
O’Neill’s can continue replicating their jerseys now
It seems a strange decision. I know 3 stripes is not that original. But that at the angle and going from short to long, there’s no mistaken them for anything else. It’s as recognizable as the Nike logo in my opinion.
@Thefallguy: It’s not really that logo in the photo that’s in question, rather the general practice of 3 parallel stripes denoting Adidas, eg running down a sleeve
@Squiddley Diddley: ahh I got you now. Cheers
My stripes were taken off me by the Mrs
Sweat shops for fakes are in overdrive everywhere now
I remember Kerry had a Adidas kit in 80′s classic for one year though as there was outrage about it
@Ossi Fritsche: gaa jerseys had a rule they had to be manufactured in Ireland, keeping jobs at home etc.
So kerry were effectively breaking the rules
@Aidan Mitchell: think because of that they had to be made under licence in Cork at the time
@Ossi Fritsche: especially when they washed it in a BENDIX !
@Valthebear: correct, so no sweatshop, no profit. Adidas lost money on them
Three strikes and you’re out!
Sergeants everywhere breathe a sigh of relief.
A Dream I Dreamt About Stripes
Can only get Bulmers jungle juice in Ireland …
Everywhere else it’s Bleedin Magners
@Rodney Williams: on account of there being a different, unrelated, cider company in the UK called Bulmers. The chances!
@RhinoDino: Not actually unrelated, the Bulmers UK once owned 50% of the Irish company and increased production. Later on they sold their share back to the original Irish company. As Magner was the founder they went with that name when launching in the UK and internationally.
Why don’t you show an image of the relevant logo???? Misleading article
@Arya: Whether or not one wishes to comment upon the weather, it is hardly acceptable to replicate the very mentality that you so negatively allude to.
@Vocal Outrage: I am not replicating it. It was the irony in the comment. It was really hilarious.
ALDIdas will be thrilled. What a F#*k EU to anyone with a reputable brand. That Rloex crown is not distinctive enough either, come to think of it. Not sure if I’m telling the time or sending a Hallmark card. FFS, Alfa Romeo are about the only ones safe from EU approved brand piracy. Being ruled by Belgium is awesome!
Those 3 Stripes are my Intellectual Property The have been on an old UNDERPANTS of Mine
3 Stripes and your out