Pundit makes ‘huge’ Liverpool claim after John Stones latest
Frank McAvennie has claimed there is a “huge difference” between Man City and Liverpool in their ability to cope without injured players.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former West Ham striker is worried there is “something wrong” with John Stones as he keeps picking up injuries.
As quoted by the Manchester Evening News (3 February), Pep Guardiola confirmed he will be without Stones for three to four weeks after he suffered a hamstring injury in the 1-0 FA Cup win over Arsenal (27 January).
The 28-year-old had only recently returned from an injury and now faces another spell on the sidelines.
Liverpool are also without key centre-back Virgil van Dijk who picked up an injury in the 3-1 defeat to Brentford on 2 January, although he is expected to return to training this week.
McAvennie insisted City’s ability to cope without key players separates them from their Premier League rivals.
“That is the difference between Man City and Liverpool, City can cope without Stones and Liverpool can’t cope without Van Dijk,” he told Football Insider.
“They seem to get injured a lot. City are still doing what they are doing and letting all these great players go.
“I feel for Stones, he can’t catch a break. Every time he comes in and starts to do well he seems to get injured again. He is a decent player but there is something wrong with him if he keeps getting injured.
“But Man City can cope without Stones, Liverpool can’t cope without Van Dijk, that is a huge difference.“
In other news, according to Kieran Maguire, ‘backlash’ looms as Man City could soon set up English ‘feeder club’.