BREAKING NEWS:The reason Phil Foden and Savinho were not included in the squad for the West Ham United vs. Manchester City match (1-3) was not specified.

Manchester City faced West Ham in the Premier League without two key players: Phil Foden and Savinho, who were sidelined due to injuries. Their absences meant they could not participate in the match, creating a challenge for the team.

Pep Guardiola, Manchester City’s manager, confirmed on Friday that Phil Foden would not be available. Foden had experienced discomfort in the opening Premier League match against Chelsea, which continued into the following game against Ipswich. Due to this ongoing issue, he was deemed unfit to face West Ham. Guardiola was hopeful that Foden would recover in time for the next match against Brentford in two weeks, though it remained unclear if he would be available for the England squad during this period.

Savinho’s absence was more unexpected. The Brazilian winger, who had started the first two matches of the season, had participated in training sessions earlier in the week. However, he sustained a knee injury, causing significant discomfort. Guardiola told Sky Sports that Savinho’s knee issue made him unfit to play, but the club remained hopeful that he would be ready after the international break.

With both Foden and Savinho out, Nico O’Reilly was promoted to the first team to join the bench. Guardiola made minimal adjustments to the lineup from the previous match, keeping Mateo Kovacic in the starting XI as he had recovered from fitness concerns. Jack Grealish was selected to replace Savinho in the starting lineup, adding strength to Manchester City’s attack.

A victory against West Ham would place Manchester City two points ahead of Arsenal in the Premier League standings. Earlier, Arsenal had drawn 1-1 with Brighton at the Emirates Stadium. Although Kai Havertz had put Arsenal ahead, the match shifted when Declan Rice was sent off after a second yellow card. Brighton took advantage of their extra player, with Joao Pedro scoring the equalizer and securing a point for the visitors.

Despite the absence of Foden and Savinho, Guardiola’s team remains focused on maintaining their top position in the Premier League. The depth of the squad and the tactical adjustments made by Guardiola will be essential as Manchester City continues their campaign amid these injury setbacks.