Rodri fitness update ahead of Manchester City vs Liverpool

Manchester City's Rodri is likely to be fully fit to face Liverpool this weekend, despite an injury scare.

The 27-year-old midfielder sat out of Spain's first Euro qualifying match of the international break, a 3-1 win away at Cyprus, due to an unspecified 'discomfort'.

However, he returned to action on Sunday as Spain beat Georgia 3-1, starting at the base of a midfield three that also included Gavi and Fabian Ruiz, before being substituted late in the second half.

After coming through that performance unscathed, it seems Rodri has fully recovered whatever issue he had and is no longer a doubt for Saturday's showdown at the Etihad Stadium.

Liverpool's trip to Manchester this weekend promises to be the Reds' biggest test of the season so far, with the chance to leapfrog their rivals into first in the Premier League table at stake.

While Jurgen Klopp has previously tasted success at the Etihad Stadium in both the FA Cup and Champions League, the Liverpool manager's record away at City in the league isn't great – with the Reds' only victory at their rival's home coming in a 4-1 win back in November 2015.

Klopp and co might've been boosted by reports that City could be without as many as eight first-team starters for the upcoming clash. However, it now appears as though that number will be substantially smaller.

While Kevin de Bruyne and John Stones remain longer-term absentees, key men Rodri and Erling Haaland should be available after scares on international duty.

Meanwhile quartet Ederson, Matheus Nunes, Mateo Kovacic and Nathan Ake all skipped playing for their respective countries this month and could well be in the mix come Saturday.

From Liverpool's perspective, Klopp has been handed no new fitness issues to deal with over the break (so far), but will likely be without Spanish midfielders Thiago and Stefan Bajcetic this weekend, as well as Andy Robertson who is continuing his recovery from shoulder surgery.