Manchester City return to Premier League action this weekend when they take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Manchester City will be hoping to apply further pressure on Arsenal in the Premier League title race this weekend when they travel to Chelsea. Pep Guardiola’s side will be confident after picking up two huge victories against the Gunners and Liverpool in cup competitions.

As for Liam Rosenior’s men, they are enduring a difficult season, with Champions League qualification hanging in the balance and the FA Cup their last credible hope of silverware. Chelsea could be without seven first-team players for this weekend’s game. Captain Enzo Fernandez will be missing after the club imposed a two-match ban on him for comments made during the international break. The midfielder suggested he would be open to joining Real Madrid in the summer transfer window.

Former City youth player Jamie Gittens will also miss this weekend’s game having suffered a hamstring injury at the start of February. Reece James has a hamstring problem and is in a race to return before the end of the season.

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Trevoh Chalobah was carried off on a stretcher in the defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The centre-back is due to return in May, as is Levi Colwill, who has been out all season with a cruciate ligament tear.

Goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen has been missing since March after needing a minor operation on an injury. He may be back to feature in the matchday squad against City along with Benoit Badiashile, who has missed the last couple of games with an illness.

City’s injury picture looks a lot better with defence their only major concern. Josko Gvardiol broke his leg in the reverse fixture earlier this year and is a doubt for the World Cup.

Ruben Dias picked up a new injury on the eve of the Liverpool victory having missed the Carabao Cup final before the international break. John Stones has also picked up another knock.

On those injuries, City assistant head coach Pep Lijnders said: “Ruben got a knock in the last few minutes of training. We are assessing it.

“I think he has a scan [last Saturday] so we will have to see. John will not be long-term, I think, but he was not available for today.”

Manchester City pair Ruben Dias and John Stones were not involved in the FA Cup quarter-final victory over Liverpool on Saturday.

Manchester City pair Ruben Dias and John Stones are not expected to be long-term absentees after they missed the FA Cup quarter-final win over Liverpool.

City won 4-0 against Arne Slot’s side to ease into the last four and book a return to Wembley just a fortnight on from lifting the Carabao Cup under the arch with a 2-0 success over Arsenal.

Dias missed the win over the Gunners while Stones was among the subs before pulling out of international duty with England with a knock.

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Portugal defender Dias did not link up with his country. He had been taken off at half-time in the Champions League game with Real Madrid, having not looked comfortable.

Speaking after the win over Liverpool, City assistant Pep Lijnders – who conducted media duties with manager Pep Guardiola serving a touchline ban – said Dias had picked up a knock in training.

Lijnders also said that he didn’t expect Stones’ issue to keep him out long-term as the centre back seeks to prove his fitness in the closing weeks of the campaign for both club and country ahead of the World Cup.

Josko Gvardiol remains a long-term City absentee having not played since the Premier League draw with Chelsea in January. Guardiola hopes he will be ready to return before the end of the season, although the player will also be working towards being as ready as he can for the 2026 World Cup with Croatia.

Both Arne Slot and Pep Guardiola have given injury updates ahead of Manchester City vs Liverpool in the FA Cup

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City have been given significant Liverpool injury updates ahead of the FA Cup quarter-final clash at the Etihad Stadium. The visitors had fitness doubts about four players, both before and throughout the international break, with optimism growing over Alexander Isak’s return in the coming weeks following Slot’s latest assessment.

Speaking on Friday, he said: “It will definitely be too fast to expect him in the starting line-up. He trained with us yesterday for the first time, and today, for the second time after exactly 101 days. So, it will take a bit of time… we will make sure we do the right thing in terms of building him up.”

Mohamed Salah is among those who could feature from the off at the Etihad Stadium, with Slot offering an encouraging update after the Egyptian missed both the defeat to Brighton and international duty.

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The Liverpool boss said: “He is [fit]. He trained with us yesterday, he will train with us today and is available for the game tomorrow.”

There was further positive news regarding Federico Chiesa and Jeremie Frimpong following their respective stints with Italy and the Netherlands.

Chiesa returned to Liverpool ahead of schedule, while Frimpong was withdrawn just 13 minutes after coming on against Ecuador due to a potential injury concern. However, Slot confirmed both players were back in training on Thursday.

The 47-year-old was unable to offer encouraging news on Alisson, however, with the shot-stopper set to sit out Liverpool’s next four fixtures at minimum with a hamstring problem.

Slot said: “He will not be part of the Paris Saint-Germain games as well. He will be out for a bit longer. Towards the end of the season, we expect him to be fit again.”

Alisson had only recently come back from a brief spell out but is now sidelined once more alongside several other long-term Liverpool injury casualties.

Taking to social media platform X on Friday afternoon, he shared his own update, writing: “I didn’t suffer a new injury. I’m in the treatment phase, and the plan is to be in full playing condition by the end of April!”

Wataru Endo, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni have all gone under the knife this campaign with none of the trio anticipated to return before the season’s conclusion.

Guardiola has considerably fewer fitness worries ahead of the FA Cup encounter between Liverpool and City. Josko Gvardiol remains their only confirmed long-term injury casualty with fellow centre-backs John Stones and Ruben Dias also nursing concerns.

The latter sat out the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal due to a hamstring injury but having enjoyed several weeks’ rest, he could be included in Saturday’s matchday squad.

Greater uncertainty surrounds Stones following his withdrawal from the England squad earlier this week. Thomas Tuchel delivered a fitness update after his return to Man City.

He explained: “John was gutted he had this minor incident, not a big injury. Given the history, we had to be careful; it made no sense to push him through and try stuff that could make it worse.”

Manchester City face Real Madrid in the Champions League tonight, trailing 3-0 from the first leg of their last-16 tie.

Manchester City have a mountain to climb in the Champions League tonight as they seek to overcome a 3-0 first-leg last-16 deficit against Real Madrid.

Federico Valverde’s hat-trick in the Bernabeu means City’s European hopes hang by a thread heading into the second leg at the Etihad but Blues boss Pep Guardiola and his squad believe they can mount a sensational comeback.

To do so they will have to defend better than they did in the first leg and City could revert to what has been their first choice back four to try and shut Real out. Abdukodir Khusanov started at right back against Madrid last week in part to combat Vini Jr’s pace on that flank, but Mathues Nunes could come back in given he offers a bit more going forward and City need goals.

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Ruben Dias and Marc Guehi are set to start in central defence while Rayan Ait-Nouri, left out in Madrid, can come back in on the left. That would allow Nico O’Reilly to move into midfield alongside the experienced Rodri and Bernardo Silva.

Erling Haaland, despite being short of goals, will surely start up front and the big question marks surround the other two places. Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki look the men most likely to create chances and offer the attacking unpredictability that City will need to break down a Real defence.

Cherki seems best placed to provide the service to Haaland while Doku was a constant threat in the opening stages last week. Leaving out Antoine Semenyo would be a bold call but he can offer a threat from the bench.

“The selection I have already more or less. I know the team that is going to start tomorrow,” Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference on Monday. “I don’t have any doubts. One doubt maybe but the rest is clear.”

City predicted XI: Donnaurmma, Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Ait-Nouri; Rodri, Bernardo, O’Reilly; Doku, Cherki, Haaland.

Manchester City are aiming to overturn a three-goal deficit at the Etihad Stadium against Real Madrid tonight

Manchester City welcome Real Madrid to the Etihad Stadium tonight as they aim to overturn a 3-0 first leg defeat in the Champions League round of 16. The Blues were not at their best in Madrid as they succumbed to a first half hat-trick from Federico Valverde.

Pep Guardiola’s side improved in the second half and could have pulled one back but for a smart save from Thibaut Courtois. In his pre-match press conference, Guardiola did not provide any injury hints. He suggested he had already picked his team for tomorrow night but for one unnamed position.

City were given the day off from training as they recover for the massive game. With this in mind, MEN Sport has taken a look at the latest injury news from the Real camp.

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Kylian Mbappe

Injury: Knee

The Frenchman was in the stands last week as he watched Real put themselves on top. Alvaro Arbeloa confirmed Mbappe would not play against Elche but would travel to Manchester and that has proven to be the case. The forward was named in Real’s 26-man squad on Monday.

Potential return date: March 17 vs Manchester City

Jude Bellingham

Injury: Hamstring

Bellingham joined Mbappe in the stands last Wednesday but has been included in the travelling squad for tomorrow’s game. Whether he plays remains to be seen considering his lengthy absence.

Potential return date: March 17 vs Manchester City

Ferland Mendy

Injury: Muscular

During the victory over City, Mendy was replaced after picking up a muscular injury. He did not play against Elche and is not in the travelling squad this week.

Potential return date: March

Alvaro Carreras

Injury: Calf

Mendy replaced Carreras while the left-back was injured with a minor calf issue. The former Manchester United man has since recovered and is in the travelling squad to face City.

Potential return date: March 17 vs Manchester City

David Alaba

Injury: Calf

Like Carreras, Alaba struggled with his calf last week but has since returned and has travelled to Manchester.

Potential return date: March 17 vs Manchester City

Dani Ceballos

Injury: Calf

Unlike his teammates, Ceballos will not return this week. His calf injury is a long-term issue for Real Madrid.

Potential return date: April

Eder Militao

Injury: Hamstring

The defender suffered a serious hamstring injury in December and has not featured since. He has not travelled with the Real squad to England.

Potential return date: April

Rodrygo

Injury: Knee

Real’s winger has had surgery on his ACL and will not be back until the end of the year. The Brazil international is guaranteed to miss the World Cup this summer.

Potential return date: November/December

Manchester City injury list with the Blues in the midst of a hectic schedule and several players sidelined.

Manchester City return to Premier League action this weekend when they travel to West Ham United.

The Blues were beaten 3-0 by Real Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie in midweek and must now refocus to ensure they keep pace with Arsenal at the top of the table.

City have the majority of their squad available, and Pep Guardiola confirmed on Friday that Erling Haaland was fit to feature. The striker sat out the win over Newcastle United in the FA Cup last weekend but played in Madrid. Here’s the injury latest from the Etihad.

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Mateo Kovacic

Injury: Ankle

It has been a frustrating season for Kovacic after suffering an ankle injury in October. Guardiola confirmed the midfielder would be back for the latter stages of the campaign and he has now returned to training.

Potential return date: March/April

Rico Lewis

Injury: Ankle

Lewis has been absent in recent weeks with an ankle problem and is not yet fit enough to return to the squad. “Rico still has a little bit of swelling in the ankle,” said Guardiola ahead of the trip to West Ham.

Potential return date: March

Josko Gvardiol

Injury: Leg

Gvardiol is a long-term absentee for City having fractured his leg in the January draw with Chelsea. The defender is in a race against the clock to be back before the end of the season and this summer’s World Cup.

Potential return date: May/June

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Max Alleyne

Injury: Knock

Alleyne has not been in the squad since the victory over Salford in the FA Cup. He picked up a knock in that game but did feature in first-team training on Tuesday before the trip to Real Madrid.

Potential return date: March

Manchester City face Real Madrid this evening in the first leg of their round of 16 Champions League tie at the Bernabeu.

Manchester City meet their old foes Real Madrid this evening as the pair battle it out in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie.

Both sides have had their struggles at times this season, with Real Madrid sacking Xabi Alonso earlier in the campaign. Alvaro Arbeloa has steadied the ship since his appointment but Real have still lost two of their previous four games. City, meanwhile, have threatened to put together one of their formidable runs that have seen them clinch so many pieces of silverware, but they’ve shown they’re still susceptible to the odd slip-up.

Tonight’s game promises to be a fascinating encounter, and both sides have thier injury problems. Here’s a look at the players who could miss out tonight due to injury.

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Man City injury latest

Josko Gvardiol will play no part in tonight’s game having suffered a fracture to his right leg during the 1-1 draw with Chelsea in January. Mateo Kovacic is another who has spent a significant spell in the treatment room and he is also unavailable tonight, although he is back in team training and so there’s a hope a return could be on the horizon.

Max Alleyne is continuing his comeback from a knock and he has been included in the travelling squad, as has Erling Haaland after he sat out the FA Cup victory over Newcastle on Saturday.

List of City absentees due to injury: Gvardiol, Kovacic

Real Madrid injury latest

So, City aren’t without their injury concerns but tonight’s opposition have far more problems. Kylian Mbappe is back in training after injury but tonight could come too soon for Real’s talisman. Arbeloa has said he expects to have the Frenchman back “very soon” but refused to confirm whether he would play against City.

Jude Bellingham has been missing with a hamstring injury since last month and is not expected to play tonight, while Rodrygo will also miss the game after undergoing surgery on his ACL.

Former Manchester United left-back Alvaro Fernandez could sit out the Bernabeu clash with a calf problem, and David Alaba is in a similar situation having missed the weekend win over Celta Vigo with a calf injury.

Dani Ceballos picked up an injury in the defeat to Osasuna in February and is not expected back any time soon. Éder Militão rounds off the Real injury list and he too will play no part this evening.

Possible list of Real absentees due to injury: Mbappe, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Fernandez, Alaba, Ceballos, Militao

Manchester City take on Real Madrid tonight in the Champions League round of 16 first leg.

Manchester City return to Spain tonight when they take on Real Madrid in the Champions League round of 16 first leg at the Bernabeu. The Blues enter the game full of confidence after beating Newcastle 3-1 in the FA Cup on Saturday night. That team was heavily changed with the midweek clash in mind.

Erling Haaland did not travel to St James’ Park, sparking fears he could miss the game against Real. The Norway international did not travel to Leeds due to a minor ankle issue but he did play against Nottingham Forest last Wednesday.

Pep Guardiola said after the game against Newcastle he wanted Haaland to rest as he monitors his recovery. MEN Sport has rounded up the latest injury news and return dates from the City camp ahead of tonight’s big game.

Erling Haaland

Injury: Knock

Haaland took part in first-team training on Tuesday ahead of the clash with Real Madrid. He has travelled with the squad to Spain for tonight’s match.

Potential return date: March 11 vs Real Madrid

Mateo Kovacic

Injury: Ankle

It has been a frustrating season for Kovacic after suffering an ankle injury in October. Guardiola confirmed the midfielder would be back for the latter stages of the campaign and was training with the squad ahead of the trip to Madrid.

Potential return date: March/April

Max Alleyne

Injury: Knock

Alleyne has not been in the squad since the victory over Salford in the FA Cup. He picked up a knock in that game but did feature in first-team training on Tuesday before the trip to Real Madrid.

Potential return date: March

Josko Gvardiol

Injury: Leg

Gvardiol is a long-term absentee for City having fractured his leg in the January draw with Chelsea. The defender is in a race against the clock to be back before the end of the season and this summer’s World Cup.

Potential return date: May/June

Man City are in FA Cup action on Saturday as they take on Newcastle United at St James’ Park

Manchester City have a break from the drama of the Premier League title race this week as they look to make it into the quarter-final of the FA Cup.

Pep Guardiola’s side face a tough trip to St James’ Park to take on Newcastle in the third round in Saturday’s late kick-off. City will be looking to use the game to bounce back from the disappointment of the 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest in their last outing.

Goals from Antoine Semenyo and Rodri had given them the lead twice in the game, but City found themselves pegged back on both occasions. The result, along with Arsenal’s win, saw the gap to the top of the Premier League table grow by another two points.

For City, eyes will now turn to cup competitions, with the FA Cup clash against the Magpies, followed by the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 clash against Real Madrid. Guardiola’s side travel to Spain for Wednesday night’s game.

Ahead of the clash against Newcastle, the City boss has given the latest on the injury status of his squad. Here’s a look at the latest from the treatment room at the Etihad Stadium.

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Nico O’Reilly

Injury: Ankle

The 20-year-old suffered an ankle injury in the win over Leeds, forcing him to miss the mid-week clash against Nottingham Forest.

What Guardiola has said: “He feels better, we will see today.”

Possible return date: Vs Newcastle (A), Sat 7 Mar (8pm) – FA Cup.

Max Alleyene

Injury: Knock

The defender picked up an injury in the fourth round FA Cup clash against Salford City, causing him to miss the last three Premier League matches.

Possible return date: Unknown.

Mateo Kovacic

Injury: Ankle

The midfielder has been missing since November due to an ankle injury.

What Guardiola has said: “We think Mateo will be ready for the World Cup, probably even earlier. It’s a complex injury and treatment; things are monitored daily. Recovery is going well.” (12 Feb)

Possible return date: May.

Josko Gvardiol

Injury: Shin

The defender has been out since January with a fractured leg suffered in the Premier League clash against Chelsea.

What’s been said: In a post to social media, he wrote: “This is a hard moment, but it will never define me. I know who I am and where I come from.

“I’ll fight every day to return stronger. I will rise again, better than ever.”

Possible return date: Unknown

Manchester City are looking to bridge the gap to Arsenal in the Premier League title race, but they have fitness concerns over key players including Erling Haaland

Manchester City host Premier League strugglers Nottingham Forest on Wednesday as they look to keep pressure on Arsenal in the Premier League title race.

Pep Guardiola’s side are unbeaten in all competitions since the 3-1 Champions League defeat to Bodo/Glimt at the end of January. They last tasted disappointment in the top-flight three days earlier when Manchester United ran out 2-0 winners at Old Trafford in the Manchester derby.

City have emerged out of a tricky period as Arsenal’s closest challengers with the Gunners under pressure to capitalise on their lead at the summit. Their 2-1 win over Chelsea on Sunday restored a five-point gap but with a win over Forest, the deficit can be reduced to two points.

They return to the Etihad Stadium after their 1-0 win over Leeds United after beating Daniel Farke’s side without Erling Haaland’s services.

Nico O’Reilly limped off in the final 20 minutes of the triumph to add a blemish to the result. Speaking on Tuesday, Guardiola provided an update on the England defender and their star striker.

READ MORE: ‘Arsenal dictate’ – Pep Guardiola talks set pieces after Liverpool FC gripeREAD MORE: Erling Haaland injury update as Pep Guardiola delivers Man City latest

Here, we round up their latest fitness concerns.

Erling Haaland

The Norwegian missed the trip to Elland Road with a “little injury” and Guardiola raised doubts over whether he would be fit enough to feature for the visit of Forest.

The City head coach relayed positive news about the striker but said a decision will be made.

He said: “He feels much better but yesterday we didn’t train and now we have training. We’ll decide today.”

Potential return date: March 4 vs Nottingham Forest

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Nico O’Reilly

An ankle issue forced O’Reilly off at Elland Road on Saturday after picking up the problem during the 1-0 win.

The 20-year-old has emerged as a breakout star for City this season and he has been in red-hot form after turning goalscorer in the important win over Newcastle United.

He scored twice in the triumph over the Magpies but there will be an anxious wait over his fitness as they will also monitor his fitness ahead of a gruelling week which sees a trip to Newcastle United in the FA Cup on Saturday before their Champions League first-leg against Real Madrid.

Guardiola said: “The same, we will decide after training.”

Potential return date: March 4 vs Nottingham Forest

Josko Gvardiol

It was as a result of Josko Gvardiol’s leg injury that City sprung into action during the January transfer window.

The Croatian stopper’s injury compounded their injury troubles and led to the signing of Marc Guehi. While the England international has been a crucial addition, City will be looking for him to return to full fitness as soon as possible after being a versatile option for Guardiola’s side.

He suffered a fractured leg against Chelsea in January and is expected to remain sidelined for a lengthy period.

In a post to social media, he wrote: “This is a hard moment, but it will never define me. I know who I am and where I come from.

“I’ll fight every day to return stronger. I will rise again, better than ever.”

Potential return date: Unknown.