Manchester City star set for ‘three to four weeks out’ through thigh injury – Arsenal availability questioned

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City are set to be without mainstay goalkeeper Ederson for up to one month following a thigh injury sustained against Liverpool.

The Manchester City shot-stopper was withdrawn from action during the second-half of the club’s 1-1 draw at Anfield at the weekend, following a collision with Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez that resulted in a penalty kick for the hosts.

Alexis Mac Allister stepped up and converted the spot kick, with Ederson remaining on the field for the Liverpool goal but almost immediately indicating a need to be replaced, with Stefan Ortega Moreno taking his place.

The German keeper played out the remainder of the contest and largely starred for Manchester City, denying Liverpool on a number of occasions and ensuring that Pep Guardiola and his players would come away from Merseyside with a point.

Now however, Manchester City have received an initial diagnosis on the injury sustained by Ederson, throwing his availability for a major contest at the end of this month into significant doubt.

According to the information of MailSport’s Jack Gaughan, Manchester City goalkeeper and Brazil number one international Ederson is set for ‘three to four weeks out’ with a thigh injury sustained against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.

As a result, it is further detailed that the 30-year-old is now a ‘major doubt’ for Manchester City’s high-profile Premier League showdown clash with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium at the end of this month.

Reports from Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, went on to state that the latest scans have shown Ederson has an injury on the rectus femoris muscle of the right leg.

Speaking immediately after the 1-1 draw against Liverpool, Pep Guardiola was unable to offer any initial insight into Ederson’s problem, but appeared to suggest bad news.

Manchester City take on Newcastle United in the Emirates FA Cup quarter-final in their next outing, hosting Eddie Howe’s side at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening. Stefan Ortega was expected to start that contest, regardless of Ederson’s availability.

As well as Arsenal at the end of March, City will also host Aston Villa in the Premier League in early April, before travelling to face Crystal Palace in an early Saturday lunch-time kick-off the following weekend on 6 April.

City will also find out their fate in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals this week, with the draw for the last-eight of Europe’s premier club competition due following the conclusion of the remaining last-16 contests.

Jack Grealish remains the other Manchester City player ruled out through injury, with the England international continuing his more pragmatic approach to the problem following the aggravation against Luton Town.