Pep Guardiola has reacted to Manchester City‘s six-game winless streak by dropping goalkeeper Ederson for Sunday’s Premier League clash against Liverpool at Anfield, sources have told ESPN.
Reigning champions City were eight points adrift of league leaders Liverpool before the match after losing three successive Premier League games.
City only ended a five-game losing run with a 3-3 Champions League draw at home to Feyenoord on Wednesday. City had led 3-0 with just 15 minutes to go before a series of defensive mistakes led to Feyenoord snatching a draw with three late goals.
And Brazil goalkeeper Ederson has paid the price for being at fault for Feyenoord’s equalising goal — Ederson raced out of his penalty area and missed the ball while trying to clear — by being dropped in favour of understudy Stefan Ortega.
Defender Josko Gvardiol has also been dropped by Guardiola, with centre-half Rúben Dias returning to the team following a lengthy injury lay-off.
Ederson, who had been close to a summer move to the Saudi Pro League before choosing to stay at the Etihad, has been City’s regular first-choice since arriving from Benfica in a £35 million transfer in 2017.
But Ortega has now been favoured ahead of the 31-year-old as Guardiola attempts to reboot City’s faltering season.