KOMPANY INJURY BOOST FOR LIVERPOOL

Vincent Kompany has started all three of City’s opening Premier League matches off the back of an injury-plagued 2016/17 campaign where he made a total of 15 league appearances throughout the season.

After taking a kick to his knee during Belgium’s 9-0 World Cup qualification win against Gibraltar, he then reported that his calf tightened up in the lead up to last Sunday’s 2-1 win away to Greece.

Kompany has consistently struggled with a troublesome calf injury over the last three seasons or so and the 31-year old defender sat out of City’s training session on Wednesday after picking up a knock while on international duty.

The Belgian international has sat out training for two days to rest his calf and it looks unlikely that he will be risked for Saturday’s Premier League clash against Liverpool, as boss Pep Guardiola will not want him aggravating the injury and being without him for a long period of time.

Belgian outlet Het Laatste Nieuws claim the club’s medical staff are hopeful Kompany will be fit to play at the Etihad on Saturday but are wary of rushing the centre-back back too quickly.

The 31-year-old influential central defender was reduced to just 15 appearances in all competitions last season, having struggled with calf issues over the past three years.

However, Kompany appeared to have put his injury problems behind him this term to start all three of City’s opening Premier League matches.

If Kompany misses the Liverpool game, Guardiola could be forced play four at the back rather than his preferred three-man defence.

With Kompany unlikely to be available for the big showdown, John Stones will be welcomed back into Guardiola’s starting XI.

With Liverpool’s deadly attacking trio of Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane firing on all cylinders so far this season, Guardiola will be sweating over Kompany’s fitness.