Man City confirm Silva exit as injuries and FA Cup path shape run-in
FA Cup draw: Manchester City will play Southampton at Wembley on 25/26 April. City’s run includes league trips to Chelsea and Burnley and a home clash with Arsenal before the semi-final.
City join Manchester United, Chelsea and Aston Villa in the race for Kerim Alajbegović. Bayer Leverkusen hold his rights and want around €30m after a buyback, with Premier League clubs having made contact.
Guardiola backs Foden to regain form despite limited minutes, calling him vital since 2023-24. With Tuchel unsure on his World Cup spot, Pep says the 25-year-old’s talent remains and ‘he will come back’.
City’s 4-0 over Liverpool showcased a front line of Haaland, Semenyo, Doku and Cherki with O’Reilly bombing forward. Haaland hit a hat-trick as fluid combinations cut Liverpool open repeatedly.
Bernardo Silva will leave City this summer. His touted successor Geovany Quenda is set for Chelsea in a £44m move, with Pep Lijnders saying Silva is unique and deserves a fitting farewell.
Trafford shines with back-to-back clean sheets vs Arsenal and Liverpool, including a penalty save from Mo Salah. Assured with his feet, he presses Donnarumma for starts as City weigh their goalkeeper pecking order.
Highlights from City 4-0 Liverpool: Haaland hat-trick and Greggs snap, Cherki’s ‘6-7’ dance, Salah’s penalty saved by Trafford, Khusanov block, Guardiola animated in stands, Sir Alex Ferguson spotted.
Arsenal reportedly eye Lewis Hall but Newcastle want a huge fee, with Manchester City also linked. Piece cites Hall’s usage and metrics as clubs assess left-back options.
Pep dodges fresh questions on his City future, saying he has ‘spoken about that in the past’. He is contracted until 2027, with Hugo Viana planning for scenarios amid succession talk and ongoing success.
Report claims Real Madrid are confident of landing Rodri despite his City deal to 2027, with City offering new terms. Article notes his post-injury form and Madrid’s wider midfield overhaul plans.
Guardiola says Nico lacks minutes due to Rodri and Bernardo, praises his attitude and insists he will improve with ‘a thousand million games’ ahead, citing his standout FA Cup display at Newcastle.
Former City keeper Zack Steffen gifts Toronto an equaliser with a miscontrolled backpass as Colorado lose 3-2. The 31-year-old’s latest high-profile error recalls his 2022 FA Cup mistake for City vs Liverpool.
FPL view: with City out of Europe, Haaland and O’Reilly seen as locks, with Semenyo or Cherki also options. Managers weigh Wildcard timing ahead of City’s future double and Chelsea fixture in GW32.
Pep Lijnders says Ruben Dias suffered a late training knock before the 4-0 FA Cup win over Liverpool. John Stones was also unavailable. City face Southampton in the semi-finals and travel to Chelsea next.
Bernardo Silva, 31, will leave Manchester City when his contract expires after nine seasons, six Premier League titles and one Champions League. Pep Lijnders called him ‘unique’ and irreplaceable.
Abdukodir Khusanov impressed in the 4-0 win over Liverpool, marrying recovery pace and robust defending with composed passing and drives into midfield. Pep Lijnders praised his speed and smart play.
