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Pep Guardiola hints at Rodri decision as City boss weighs up midfield decision for huge game at Etihad Stadium

Pep Guardiola has suggested Rodri will not be in the Manchester City squad for their Premier League showdown with Liverpool.

Rodri is available again following his latest return as a late substitute against Bournemouth last weekend, but Guardiola has warned City must be “careful” with the midfielder who has struggled with some niggling problems since his return from his serious knee injury.

“Rodri can play one game a week, but the problem is we play every three days and then there is the national team. It was a long injury. History says the year after, you have problems.

Rodri returned as a late substitute against Bournemouth last weekend

Getty Images

“We tried to avoid it, but the stats say that. One game a week you recover fine, but me as a manager, [when] the doctors say he is ready, he is going to play. We have to be careful from now on.”

Nico Gonzalez and Phil Foden are both set for starts and the big question for Guardiola is which two of Tijjani Reijnders, Bernardo Silva and Rayan Cherki will join them in the team.

Bernardo is often trusted by Guardiola in big games and Reijnders started in midweek.

Gianluigi Donnarumma and Erling Haaland are two of the first names on the team sheet.

Mateo Kovacic is City’s only long-term absentee at the moment.

Doubts: Rodri

Injured: Kovacic (ankle)

Time and date: 4.30pm GMT on Sunday November 9, 2025

How to watch: Sky Sports

Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester