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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Writing in his column for The Daily Mirror, Stan Collymore has insisted Aymeric Laporte’s injury will not make Liverpool title favourites this season.
What did he say?
The Frenchman was stretchered off against Brighton, with Pep Guardiola admitting Manchester City would have to be resourceful with the way they covered for the centre-back’s potential long-term absence.
Now, Collymore has suggested City’s squad is strong enough to cope with any injuries, and that the Etihad side are still “massive favourites” to win the Premier League.
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He said: “I know one or two people say Laporte’s injury makes Liverpool title favourites now but I’m not one of them. Manchester City have the best squad in the Premier League, and players who can come into the starting line-up and do their jobs at nine out of 10 rather than six or seven.
“So the key question is now whether City can cope without Laporte but whether or not Liverpool have the squad depth and ability to push on if Virgil van Dijk or Allison were to get bad injuries. We’re also reading too much into the fact Liverpool have won every game this season while City have dropped points.
“Remember, Liverpool were in the driving seat last time out before City went on their great run and pipped them to the title. Pep Guardiola’s men might lose more matches than Jurgen Klopp’s again but I’m still backing them to win more. Meaning the Laporte injury is a big red herring and that City are still my massive favourites for the title.”
Deja vu
After seeing Kevin de Bruyne miss large chunks of last season through injury, it really must feel like a case of deja vu for Guardiola. Laporte’s possible lay-off will mean the Etihad side will miss another key part of their team for a considerable period of time, but they will surely take solace from the fact they coped well with De Bruyne’s absence last season.
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However, whilst the Belgian was out, City could call upon the likes of Bernardo Silva, David Silva, Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden, amongst others. The club simply don’t have the same level of cover at centre-back, which is why Guardiola has already revealed both Fernandinho and Kyle Walker will be expected to step up. How they work around Laporte’s injury will be crucial to what they can hope to achieve this season.
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