Pep Guardiola gives Sergio Aguero and Aymeric Laporte fitness updates as Man City prepare to face Aston Villa

straight to your inbox Gabriel Jesus gave notice he is rediscovering his goalscoring boots just in time for Manchester City ’s trip to Liverpool on Sunday. The Brazil striker has scored the opening goal in consecutive games to keep the Blues riding high at the top of the Premier League.

straight to your inboxManchester City will have to try to win the Premier League without a prolific goalscorer this season, Pep Guardiola has come to accept.Sergio Aguero has suffered a number of setbacks in his attempts to return from a knee problem that kept him out of the beginning of the campaign, while Gabriel Jesus has just three league goals to his name after another frustrating season.

straight to your inbox Sergio Aguero is still “a few weeks” away from Manchester City return despite getting a lean bill of health following Covid-19. The Blues’ all-time goalscorer has not played since October and has not scored in the Premier League for over a year after injury and illness wrecked his season.

straight to your inboxSergio Aguero has revealed that he has fully recovered from Covid-19 and will soon return to full Manchester City training. It had already been an injury-plaguedridden season for Aguero and it got even worse in 2021 as he tested positive for coronavirus.

straight to your inboxIlkay Gundogan has emerged as Manchester City’s secret weapon as they power on without Sergio Aguero.The Blues have recently made light of the fact their all-time top goalscorer Aguero has hardly figured this season.And Germany international Gundogan, who normally plays in a deeper role, has flourished as a more advanced midfielder, scoring seven goals in the last eight Premier League games, including two in the 5-0 win at West Brom on Tuesday night.Pep Guardiola was not

straight to your inboxSergio Aguero is getting over his struggles with Covid-19 and Pep Guardiola believes he will bounce back to “make the difference” in Manchester City’s title challenge.The club’s all-time top goalscorer has “struggled” with fatigue after testing positive for the virus last week, ince when he has had to self-isolate at hom.But Guardiola said Aguero has told medical staff that he is fighting back – and confidently predicted he will bring his considerable influence to bear in

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola suggested Eric Garcia could leave Manchester City this month after resigning himself to losing the centre-back.Garcia stunned his club last summer when he informed them that he no longer saw a future for himself at the Etihad and wished instead to return to former club Barcelona.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola could call two academy players up for Manchester City's FA Cup trip to Cheltenham, and use the opportunity to bring back a number of players from injury or the fringes.With Kyle Walker, Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne out, Guardiola might have to alter some of his plans against the League Two minnows.

straight to your inboxManchester City manager Pep Guardiola had a special request to make after hearing that his star-studded squad will be changing in a bar for the FA Cup tie at Cheltenham tomorrow.The Blues head to the Jonny-Rocks Stadium for the fourth round tie, and Covid-19 restrictions mean the normal dressing rooms are too close to those of the home side.To comply with pandemic rules, City will be given a lounge underneath the stands, the same as Cheltenham’s normal League Two

straight to your inbox Kevin De Bruyne will be out for up to six weeks to hand Manchester City another blow to their Premier League title hopes. The Blues discovered yesterday that Sergio Aguero faces an undetermined spell out after testing positive for Covid-19.

straight to your inboxMichael Owen says he expects the offside rule to be changed after Man City's controversial goal against Aston Villa.In an open game, City eventually took the lead in the 79th minute when Bernardo Silva fired home after Rodri's pass.Yet Rodri only had possession of the ball due to tackling Villa defender Tyrone Mings when coming from an offside position.Villa manager Dean Smith was incensed that the goal was allowed to stand and was eventually sent to the stands for arguing

straight to your inboxManchester City’s opening goal against Aston Villa has caused a stir in the football world, and has led to one pundit suggesting that the laws of the game needs to be changed.Pep Guardiola’s side claimed a 2-0 win at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night, with Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan getting on the scoresheet.It was the opening strike from the Portuguese international which has created a debate, with Villa unhappy for an apparent offside.Rodri was stood in an

straight to your inboxBernardo Silva says his goal that broke Aston Villa's stubborn resilience and sent Manchester City top of the Premier League felt more important than usual.Manchester City had plenty of chances, but somehow could not convert and were heading for a nervy finish on a night that would end with them being top of the Premier League if they were to record three points.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola was left hoping on Wednesday night that the injuries that forced Kyle Walker and Kevin De Bruyne off against Aston Villa will not be too serious.Manchester City continued their good form, winning their sixth straight league game and ninth in all competitions to reach the Premier League summit for the first time this season thanks to late goals from Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan.However, they had to make do without two of their starting XI for long spells.

straight to your inbox Pep Guardiola has warned John Stones that he needs to continue revamping his football career – and his life – to be a Manchester City success. Stones looked like he was heading out of the Etihad Stadium exit door last summer, when midfielder Fernandinho was being chosen ahead of him, and his personal life was impacting on his game.

straight to your inbox Pep Guardiola marked the fourth anniversary of Gabriel Jesus ’ arrival at Manchester City by saying the Brazil star "knows" what he has to do to improve. The 23-year-old joined up with the Blues in January 2017 after City agreed to delay the move so he could finish a title-winning season with Palmeiras.Since then Jesus has scored an impressive 72 goals in 166 appearances, a goals-per-game average that would be stunning in most teams.

direct to your inboxPep Guardiola called upon an answer he has used before when asked how he will spend his 50th birthday today.The Manchester City boss saw his side produce a professional performance mixed with moments of individual quality on Saturday to beat Crystal Palace 4-0 and move up to second in the Premier League with a game in hand over leaders Manchester United.United had earlier drawn 0-0 with Liverpool, allowing City to move above Liverpool and to within two points of United with a

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola could not rule out a January transfer for Eric Garcia but hopes that Manchester City will be able to keep hold of the player. Garcia stunned the Blues last year when he opted not to extend his contract at the Etihad and decided that he wanted to return to Barcelona.