Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has explained the reasons behind the decision to drop Ederson as his side’s goalkeeper against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
The Premier League champions travel to Anfield this weekend knowing that they must avoid defeat in order to prevent falling 11 points behind Arne Slot’s side at the top of the table in the early stages of December.
City come into the mammoth tie on Merseyside with no win in any competition for over a month, having lost five matches in a row before blowing a three-goal lead with 15 minutes to go against Feyenoord in midweek to draw 3-3 and share points in the Champions League.
Changes are needed and fast for Guardiola and his Manchester City side, with the Etihad head coach making some significant alterations to his starting line-up against Liverpool this weekend in an attempt to change the club’s fortunes.
Speaking to television broadcasters ahead of kick-off at Anfield, Pep Guardiola was quizzed on the decision to start second-choice goalkeeper Stefan Ortega Moreno ahead of Ederson at Anfield this weekend.
“We just wanted to change something,” Guardiola insisted. “Eddy has saved a lot of goals for us. He’s saved one-versus-ones many, many times, but I decided to pick Stefan (Ortega Moreno) today.”
The Manchester City manager continued, “Both are incredibly top goalkeepers, they’re both incredible with their feet and in one-versus-ones.”
Covering the wider Manchester City team selection on Merseyside this weekend, Guardiola explained, “Basically, the players (who start) are more fit. That is the reason why. In the starting eleven, I could have changed a few other players.
“I know what Ruben (Dias) can give us in terms of leadership, but the other selections are about having more rhythm and more in the legs.”
Ederson was widely criticised for his role in two of Feyenoord’s goals at the Etihad Stadium in midweek, but Guardiola’s response to his decision would indicate that there is nothing more to the decision than rotation.
