Image Credits: Imago Images
Liverpool FC can hardly rest on their laurels after the victory over Real Madrid at Anfield in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
After the psychological uplift of dismantling Real Madrid, Arne Slot’s side must now shift their focus to a Manchester City.
The back-to-back wins mean that the title race is still on for the Reds but it feels like a win at the Etihad is needed to keep Arsenal in touch.
Liverpool will have one extra day’s rest as Manchester City face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League this Wednesday evening.
However, one Manchester City midfielder in Mateo Kovavic won’t be playing at the Etihad this evening and indeed not against Liverpool.
The midfielder’s season has been ravaged by persistent injury problems that began before the campaign even kicked off.
Kovacic underwent surgery on an Achilles injury in early June 2025, an operation that was expected to sideline him for approximately three months and forced him to miss Manchester City’s Club World Cup campaign.
The Croatian international finally returned to action in October, making just two substitute appearances totaling a mere 37 minutes across the entire 2025-26 season. However, his comeback proved short-lived.
Croation outlet Sportske Novosti provide the latest injury update, and it does not look good for the former Chelsea midfielder.
He continues to suffer with an ankle pain.
Following this, he traveled to London last week for additional tests, including an MRI scan, and consulted again with Dr. James Caldar, who performed the original surgery in June.
The results indicated calcification in the heel, causing pain and inflammation due to hardening deposits. Despite undergoing conservative therapy at Manchester City, which did not resolve the issue, Kovacic now faces a further surgery.
This upcoming surgery is expected to be less invasive than the June operation and is likely to be performed by a specialist in London, probably by the end of the week.
The rehabilitation process following the surgery is anticipated to last around four months, meaning Kovavic will only return after the new year.
The likes of Nico Gonzalez, Rodri, and Tijjani Reijnders will be some of the candidates for Pep Guardiola to choose from on Sunday.
READ MORE: Arne Slot names two Liverpool players that are getting “fitter” after Real Madrid win
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