This is an unwanted update for Guardiola's side as they enter the final hurdle in this season's title battle with Arsenal.

Manchester City return to action in under a week, with the reigning Premier League champions facing bitter rivals Liverpool this weekend in the English top flight.

And with league leaders Arsenal sitting eight points ahead, albeit having played a game extra, a slip-up against Klopp's men could see the Cityzens fall 10 to 11 points behind the North London giants.

As a result, Saturday's highly-anticipated Etihad Stadium tie is a must-win game for Guardiola's side as they gear up for the final hurdle in this season's title race. Unfortunately, the English giants will have to overcome Liverpool in the absence of one of their most talented players.

That man is none other than Phil Foden. The Manchester City academy graduate has been ruled out for the upcoming tie against the Reds, but this isn't due to an injury that he picked up during the international break.

The England national team announced on Sunday that Foden, who was called up for the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine, underwent surgery for appendicitis after succumbing to worrying pain during training.

Phil, who came off the bench in the 2-1 win over the Azzurri but missed out on the 2-0 victory over Ukraine, has had successful surgery but the timeline of his recovery remains uncertain. Nonetheless, the Cityzens confirmed in an official statement that their Three Lions sensation will miss Saturday's clash with the Merseyside giants.

This is a concerning update for Guardiola's side after witnessing Erling Haaland succumb to a groin issue a few days earlier. The Norwegian goalscoring machine picked up this knock in the FA Cup victory over Burnley but joined up with his national team only to be sent back after undergoing tests.

The former Dortmund striker is also a doubt for the Liverpool game, and due to the lack of playing time, the Norwegian could be to hit the bench, if not worse.

As mentioned earlier, Manchester City are in second but with an eight-point disadvantage over Arsenal. While the defending champions have a game in hand, the Gunners face relegation-battling Leeds this weekend and are thus the favorites to triumph. This means that De Bruyne and Co. cannot afford to drop points when Liverpool pay them a visit.