Broken bone means £53M Man City star will miss Liverpool showdown

One-time Liverpool transfer target, Matheus Nunes, has been ruled out of the trip to Anfield in the Premier League after suffering a broken finger on Wednesday evening.

The incident, which saw Nunes substituted after a nasty fall leading to a visibly bent left middle finger, has thrown a spanner in the works for Pep Guardiola's preparation for the pivotal match against Liverpool.

Despite comfortably overcoming Copenhagen with a 3-1 victory, securing a 6-2 aggregate win to progress in the Champions League, Man City's triumph was marred by Nunes' injury.

The £53M City signing was in clear discomfort, leaving the field with his hand bandaged, a sight that has surely ruffled some feathers within the City camp, especially as 20-year-old academy star Micah Hamilton stepped in to fill the void.

With the Anfield clash poised to be a defining moment in this year's title race, the stakes couldn't be higher.

Liverpool, leading the charge, hosts a City squad trailing by just a single point, with only ten games remaining.

The absence of Nunes adds to City's growing list of concerns, with Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish also sidelined, leaving Guardiola with a tactical conundrum.

On the flip side, Liverpool are buoyed by the potential return of Mohamed Salah, fresh from Europa League duties, and the comeback of Dominik Szoboszlai and Darwin Nunez, who are pushing for starting spots following their return against Nottingham Forest.

However, the Reds are not without their injury woes, with key players like Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Diogo Jota still recuperating.

Sunday's encounter is more than a match; it's a battle that could dictate the course of the Premier League title. With City's options slightly depleted and Liverpool eager to exploit any advantage, the atmosphere at Anfield is expected to be electric, charged with the anticipation of a clash that could tilt the balance of power.

The Reds, backed by their home fans, have a golden opportunity to extend their lead. However, Guardiola's City, even without Nunes and co., is a force to be reckoned with, showcasing their depth time and again.