Manchester City get Rodri BOOST ahead of Liverpool mega-clash
Manchester City have got themselves an early Rodri boost ahead of their mammoth clash against Liverpool in the Premier League.
Manchester City suffered a double blow on Sunday as they dropped points at home to 10-man Arsenal. Yes, they got a last-gasp equaliser but that sole point didn't exactly leave them thrilled.
If anything, it left them bitter.
But it wasn't the only reason that Sunday felt like a disaster. They also saw star midfielder Rodri - arguably their most important player - leave the pitch with a suspected knee injury.
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A suspected serious knee injury, in fact. Rodri looked to be in intense pain on the floor and while he hobbled off without a stretcher, things didn't look good.
'Season-ending' was the feeling, with analysts feeling this could be an ACL injury. That would end Rodri's season already, and leave City struggling.
But it appears they may have got a reprieve. Spanish outlet El Larguero claims club doctors at City have ruled out a 'serious' injury and that the player now feels optimistic - or at least, far more so than he did yesterday.
Liverpool vs Manchester City
This one is particularly notable as Liverpool will host City on December 1st. A 'serious' knee injury for Rodri would rule him out of that one (and the return fixture, actually) but if this isn't serious and is merely a strain or a tweak, then it's very possible he plays at Anfield.
This could be a serious boost for City, then. A six-week absence would mean Rodri returns in time to play, strengthening Pep Guardiola's side immeasurably.
Without him, Liverpool will seriously fancy their chances of overrunning City and Anfield with Arne Slot's new-look side. There is no more game-changing absence than Rodri, in all truth, and the outcome of his injury tests could be seismic.
It promises to be one of the biggest games of the season - if not the biggest. If this report is correct, City just got a major boost.
EDIT 16:55:
Reports elsewhere now suggest that Rodri's injury was exactly as bad as he feared. The likes of ESPN claim the Spaniard will miss the rest of the season with an ACL tear.
That 'boost' has quickly turned into despair.