Rival managers Guardiola and Klopp left with mixed emotions on injured Aguero and van Dijk
MANCHESTER CITY could be without record goalscorer Sergio Aguero for another month, manager Pep Guardiola has suggested.
Aguero, playing just his third match since recovering from the knee operation he had in June, sustained a muscular problem and was withdrawn at half- time in Saturday’s Premier League draw at West Ham.
That has ruled the 32- yearold out of tonight’s Champions League Group C clash at Marseille, with the club unsure for how long the player will be sidelined.
Guardiola said: “It depends on the injury. When it is minimum it will be 10- 15 days. If it is longer it will be three weeks to a month. I don’t know. When you are four or five months out ( with) knee problems, always you have a risk when you come back.
“We tried to handle it as well as possible, just 50- 55 minutes a game, but it was not enough to get fit for the next games. He will be back as soon as possible.”
City have had a difficult start to the campaign, dropping points in three of their five Premier League games and dealing with a lengthy list of casualties.
Aguero’s absence leaves City without an established centre forward as he joins fellow striker Gabriel Jesus on the sidelines.
To compound matters, Fernandinho, Benjamin Mendy and Nathan Ake also miss the behind- closed- doors encounter at the Stade Velodrome, although Aymeric Laporte has travelled and Kevin De Bruyne is back in contention to start.
After opening their latest Champions League challenge with a 3- 1 victory over Porto, City will hope to put themselves into an early position of strength in Group C with victory in France. Marseille were beaten by Olympiacos in their first game.
Speaking at his pre- match press conference, Guardiola said: “It’s important to qualify. We played a tough game first, now we have the second one. Always in France it’s difficult with the physicality but it’s a good chance to step forward in the group stage.”
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been impressed with how his side have coped in the absence of Virgil van Dijk.
The Reds recorded hardfought victories against Ajax and Sheffield United last week without their talismanic central defender, who requires knee surgery and faces several months out after being clattered by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford during the Merseyside derby on October 17.
Midfielder Fabinho has been tasked with filling in for the injured Dutchman at the back alongside Joe Gomez and has received praise for adapting to the circumstances quickly.
Klopp, who confirmed Joel Matip, Naby Keita and Thiago Alcantara will not be fit in time for tonight’s clash against FC Midtjylland at Anfield, believes Liverpool are doing as well as can be expected without “the best defender in the world.”
“Every team in the world would miss Virgil van Dijk,” said Klopp. “Fabinho, who normally plays as a six, has had to come in and play with Joe ( Gomez). For that we did pretty well. “Everyone needs time to replace a massive person or player, Virgil is the best defender in the world and so far we’ve done pretty well.”
The clash will be the first time six- time winners Liverpool and Midtjylland have ever met in a competitive fixture.