Manchester City dealt a significant injury blow as key player out for at least eight weeks and will miss Liverpool clash

Manchester City dealt a significant injury blow as key player out for at least eight weeks and will miss Liverpool clash

Manchester City have been dealt a significant injury blow with the news that defender Manuel Akanji will be out for at least eight weeks due to a hip injury, according to Metro. The Swiss international was forced off during City’s 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night and will undergo surgery on Saturday.

 

Akanji’s absence will be felt by City, particularly in their upcoming Premier League games, including the highly anticipated match against Liverpool on February 23. The defender has been a regular starter for City this season and his injury will be a significant loss for the team.

 

 

 

City manager Pep Guardiola confirmed the news at his press conference on Friday, stating that Akanji will be out for 8-10 weeks. This means that the defender will miss at least eight Premier League games, including the match against Liverpool, as well as City’s second leg against Madrid and their FA Cup tie against Plymouth on March 1.

 

The injury to Akanji is a major blow to City’s title hopes, as they are already facing a tough run of fixtures in the coming weeks. The team will need to find a way to replace Akanji’s defensive skills and experience, and it will be interesting to see how they adapt to his absence.

 

In addition to Akanji’s injury, City are also facing concerns over the fitness of midfielder Jack Grealish, who was forced off against Madrid. Guardiola stated that Grealish’s injury is not as apparent as Akanji’s, but that he is still unsure if the midfielder will be ready to play against Newcastle on Saturday.

 

The news of Akanji’s injury will be a significant concern for City fans, who will be hoping that the team can still secure a win against Liverpool without one of their key defenders. The match against Liverpool is always a highly anticipated and intense fixture, and City will need to be at their best if they are to come away with a win.

 

The injury to Akanji also raises questions about City’s defensive depth and their ability to cope with injuries to key players. The team has been fortunate to have a strong squad this season, but the absence of Akanji will be a test of their defensive resilience.

 

 

 

Manchester City win legal battle with Premier League

 

Manchester City have won their legal battle with the Premier League, as an independent tribunal rules that the league’s financial regulations were “unlawful, void, and unenforceable.”

 

The ruling, separate from City’s ongoing case involving 130 alleged financial breaches, specifically invalidates the Associated Party Transactions (APT) rules, which governed sponsorship deals linked to club owners from December 2021 to November 2024.

 

This verdict could have major implications for the Premier League authorities, potentially opening the door for compensation claims from clubs like City and Newcastle, who were restricted by the rules.

 

City had challenged the Premier League after proposed deals with Etihad Airways and First Abu Dhabi Bank were blocked in 2023.

 

The tribunal’s decision also means the Premier League must cover £20 million in legal costs.

 

Despite this setback, the league insists that its new financial regulations, implemented after a vote in November, remain valid.

 

Manchester City has achieved a significant legal victory over the Premier League concerning sponsorship regulations. An independent tribunal has declared the league’s Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules, which were in effect from December 2021 to November 2024, as “void and unenforceable.”

 

The APT rules were designed to prevent clubs from securing inflated commercial deals with entities linked to their ownership, aiming to maintain competitive balance within the league. However, the tribunal found that these regulations unfairly exempted shareholder loans from fair market value assessments, leading to their invalidation.

 

This ruling may have far-reaching implications, potentially allowing clubs whose sponsorship deals were previously blocked under these rules to seek compensation. The Premier League has since introduced revised APT regulations as of November 2024, but their legality is currently under scrutiny in an ongoing challenge.

 

It’s important to note that this legal battle is separate from the 130 disciplinary charges Manchester City faces related to alleged financial rule breaches between 2009 and 2018, which are still under review.