Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca is looking to put out the best team possible at Anfield on Sunday against Liverpool
Manchester City's Italian manager Enzo Maresca gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on September 20, 2026. (Photo by PETER POWELL / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
Enzo Maresca(Image: PETER POWELL, AFP via Getty Images)
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There was a statistic that went round recently to celebrate Elliot Anderson's rise and consistency with the England team. His appearance in the 7-0 win over Croatia was his 20th for his national team, and with his first only coming 392 days earlier that means he has reached 20 quicker than anyone else in England history.
As good as that is, it also speaks of how little rest the Manchester City midfielder has. He was ever-present for Nottingham Forest last season while they combined Premier League survival with a run to the Europa League semi-final, key for Thomas Tuchel at the World Cup, and then has been heavily leant on by Enzo Maresca for City this season.
This has been an intense window for international football - four games rather than the usual two - and Anderson entered it as one of the top players in the England squad for minutes played since the beginning of last season. Up there with him was Marc Guehi, who has been City's best defender this season.
Guehi seamlessly settled into playing regularly for City in the middle of last season after moving from Crystal Palace and is another who has barely had a break. Both signings have started all three England matches in recent days ahead of a home game on Tuesday to round off the international break.
Maresca would happily see them sit out the game given how much they have played, especially given City head to Liverpool on Sunday and then host Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. The duo will be among the first names on his teamsheet for at least the Premier League fixture if not both.
However, their minutes on Tuesday are not in his hands and City have already seen with Erling Haaland, Antoine Semenyo and Nico O'Reilly over this break that the players that had the longest and busiest campaigns last year need rest if they are to avoid breaking down.
Norway coach Stale Solbakken appear to play down some of the concerns around Haaland after he asked to be substituted in their match on Sunday, but it is still asking a lot for the No.9 to return to Manchester on Thursday and be at his sharpest to go again. There are already several issues lining up for Maresca beyond the obvious storm around the guilty verdicts.
Getting to see Anderson and Guehi back in one piece from this international window will be one significant blessing for the City boss, who can't have had much to cheer for the last few weeks.