Manchester City will be without two central defenders when they take on Liverpool in the FA Cup on Saturday
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 22: Ruben Dias, Rodri and Nathan Ake of Manchester City celebrate after winning the Carabao Cup Final match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on March 22, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Ruben Dias has not recovered in time to make the Manchester City squad
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Manchester City are without John Stones and Ruben Dias for this FA Cup quarter-final with Liverpool. The two central defenders miss out after failing to recover from the problems they picked up last month.
Dias missed the League Cup final after being ruled out with a hamstring injury. The Portugal defender had been taken off at half-time in the Champions League game with Real Madrid that week, having not looked comfortable, and was then absent completely from the playing squad at Wembley.
He had already been given the international break off and returned to the City Football Academy this week looking to prove his fitness. However, the Liverpool game has come too soon for him, with Pep Guardiola likely to be asked about a potential timeline on Saturday around the game.
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Stones was in the squad for the Carabao Cup final but was not called upon, with Nathan Ake instead partnering Abdukodir Khusanov in defence. The centre-back then linked up with his England teammates, only to be sent home shortly after with a minor calf issue.
Josko Gvardiol remains a long-term 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.
Otherwise, City are working with a healthy squad as they look to book another trip to Wembley. The Blues went there for a 22nd time under Guardiola last month when they beat Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final, and are looking to extend their own record of consecutive FA Cup semi-finals by beating Liverpool to make their eighth straight appearance in the last four.