Man City Injury Update Before Everton Clash

As Manchester City prepares for a crucial Premier League clash against Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday, April 19, 2025, the fitness of several key players is a significant point of discussion. With the season entering its final stretch and vital Champions League and FA Cup ambitions still alive, any injury setbacks could prove costly for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Recent updates from the City camp have provided a mixed bag of news regarding player availability. While there are encouraging signs of recovery for some, a few influential figures remain on the sidelines, adding a layer of complexity to Guardiola’s team selection for the encounter against the Toffees.
One of the notable boosts for Manchester City is the return to training of both Phil Foden and Manuel Akanji. Foden, the dynamic England international, had been nursing a knock sustained during the Manchester derby earlier in April and subsequently missed the comfortable 5-2 victory over Crystal Palace. His return to training on Thursday suggests that he is in contention to feature against Everton, offering a significant lift to City’s attacking options. Foden’s versatility and ability to create and score goals have made him an integral part of Guardiola’s plans, and his potential availability will be a welcome sight for the City faithful.
Similarly, the return of Manuel Akanji to training provides a much-needed reinforcement to the defensive unit. The Swiss international defender had been out of action since undergoing surgery on an abductor injury sustained during the first leg of their Champions League tie against Real Madrid over two months ago. Akanji’s return to team training indicates that he is making good progress in his recovery, and Guardiola will assess his fitness to determine if he can be involved in the trip to Goodison Park. Akanji’s versatility allows him to operate both centrally and as a full-back, offering tactical flexibility to the City manager.
However, the positive news regarding Foden and Akanji is tempered by the confirmed absence of first-choice goalkeeper Ederson. The Brazilian shot-stopper was forced off during the second half of the win against Crystal Palace with a recurring groin injury. Guardiola has confirmed that Ederson will not be available for the Everton game, and the timeframe for his return remains uncertain. Ederson’s importance to City extends beyond his shot-stopping abilities, as his distribution and ability to initiate attacks from the back are crucial to their playing style. His absence means that Stefan Ortega Moreno is likely to deputize in goal against Everton. Ortega has proven to be a capable understudy, but Ederson’s experience and quality will undoubtedly be missed.
Further compounding City’s injury concerns are the continued absences of several other key players. Erling Haaland, the prolific Norwegian striker, remains sidelined with the ankle injury he picked up during the FA Cup quarter-final victory over Bournemouth in March. Initial estimates suggested a recovery period of up to seven weeks, and Guardiola’s recent update indicates that Haaland is still not training and will not be ready for the upcoming games. Haaland’s goal-scoring prowess has been a vital asset for City this season, and his absence leaves a significant void in their attack.
Defensive duo John Stones and Nathan Ake also remain unavailable for the Everton clash. Stones has been recovering from a thigh injury, while Ake has been dealing with a foot issue that required surgery. While Guardiola mentioned that both defenders are “getting better,” he emphasized that they are “not yet” ready to return to action. Their continued absence stretches City’s defensive resources, particularly with Akanji only recently returning to training and Rodri also unavailable.
Speaking of Rodri, the influential Spanish midfielder is another significant absentee for Manchester City. The holding midfielder has been sidelined since September with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. While he is reportedly making progress in his rehabilitation and targeting a potential return at the Club World Cup later in the year, he will certainly not feature in the Premier League run-in, including the game against Everton. Rodri’s tactical intelligence, ball-winning ability, and passing range are crucial to City’s midfield stability and control.
In summary, as Manchester City travels to face Everton, Pep Guardiola will have to navigate a complex injury situation. The return of Phil Foden and Manuel Akanji to training offers a timely boost, providing quality and flexibility to the squad. However, the confirmed absence of goalkeeper Ederson, alongside the continued unavailability of key players like Erling Haaland, Rodri, John Stones, and Nathan Ake, presents significant challenges. Guardiola will need to carefully consider his team selection and tactical approach to ensure City can secure a positive result against a potentially tricky Everton side at Goodison Park, especially with crucial fixtures in the league and the FA Cup looming on the horizon. The depth of City’s squad will be tested, and the players who step onto the pitch will need to perform at their best to maintain their pursuit of a top-five finish in the Premier League and keep their FA Cup dreams alive.