Ederson absence explained as Man City drop goalkeeper for Liverpool clash

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has explained his decision to drop goalkeeper Ederson for his side’s trip to Liverpool. The Brazil international was named on the bench ahead of the clash, with Stefan Ortega preferred in between the sticks.

Ederson has been the Citizens’ regular No. 1 since joining the club from Benfica ahead of the 2017/18 campaign.

But Guardiola opted to make a change in goal at Anfield, with City conceding 15 goals in their last five matches in all competitions.

“We just wanted to change something,” the Spaniard told Sky Sports ahead of kick-off. “Eddy has saved a lot of goals for us. He's saved one on ones many, many times - but I decided to pick Stefan today.”

Ederson had started all 12 of City’s Premier League games this season ahead of the trip to Merseyside, as well as three of their Champions League games.

He was rested for the European victories against Slovan Bratislava and Sparta Prague in October but has always been given the nod over Ortega in the biggest matches.

Following a series of lacklustre displays from the City backline, however, Guardiola has taken matters into his own hands by axing the Brazilian.

City have endured their worst ever run of the Guardiola era after losing three Premier League matches on the bounce.

The Premier League champions were dispatched 2-1 by Bournemouth at the start of last month, before losing to Brighton by the same scoreline. And they were thumped 4-0 by Tottenham at home last weekend.

Their results in the Champions League were also disappointing last month, with the north west giants being humbled 4-1 by Sporting, before blowing a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord in midweek.

“As is normal in sport, they take the p**s and they laugh at your defeats,” Guardiola hissed as he previewed his team’s showdown against the Premier League leaders. “At least there’s respect. There’s no violence or this kind of stuff.

“It is part of how nice football is that people can laugh at you when it’s not going well. I don’t enjoy it all. I don’t like it. I don’t sleep as good as when I win every game. But this shall pass. I don’t know when, but nothing is eternal.

“I know how we behave internally. We have proved we are an exceptional club. We celebrate - but not much because we respect the opponents. This is one of the things I like the most - how we behave in the good moments.

“At the right moment, the club - myself first - will take the decisions we have to take to maintain the club for many years to come. I want to be here. I asked to be here to try it.”