What caused Jack Grealish to miss the match between Manchester City and Liverpool?

Jack Grealish did not attend the match between Manchester City and Liverpool.

Illness prevented Jack Grealish from representing Manchester City in their Premier League match against Liverpool.

The winger was unexpectedly omitted from the squad when it was declared an hour prior to kickoff; illness prevented him from attending the Etihad. Grealish has appeared in seven of City’s twelve league matches this season. During the international break, he was a member of the England squad and contributed to Monday’s 1-1 draw against North Macedonia.

Grealish was not the only City player who was absent. Both Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes were ruled out of the matchday squad due to injuries sustained during the international break. In addition, City named a 20-man group that comprised three goalkeepers for the match against Liverpool.

However, Ederson, Nathan Ake, and Erling Haaland, who were all doubts due to injuries prior to the match, were all included in the starting lineup. John Stones was unexpectedly included in the squad, just over two weeks after Pep Guardiola announced the England international would be sidelined “for a while” due to a hip injury.

Another returning player named to Saturday’s squad was Sergio Gomez, who had been sidelined for the previous four matches due to an injury.

Ederson was chosen in goal for City over a back four consisting of Nathan Ake, Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, and Manuel Akanji in the match against Liverpool. At midfield, despite sustaining a knock during the interval, Rodri was named alongside Julian Alvarez and Bernardo Silva. Haaland’s inclusion was a tremendous boon for City, and in Grealish’s absence, Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden started on the left and right wings, respectively.