Kevin De Bruyne injured: Liverpool, Man Utd and other games Man City star could miss

Next month’s trip to Liverpool is a no-go for Kevin De Bruyne, while March’s crunch derby with Manchester United could be a return date for Manchester City’s star midfielder.

That is the predicament facing Pep Guardiola after he confirmed the Belgium international will be out for four to six weeks due to a hamstring injury sustained during the 2-0 midweek win over Aston Villa.

De Bruyne, the reigning PFA Players’ Player of the Year, has been in typically sparkling form for City this term, scoring three times and providing 10 assists in the Premier League.

Guardiola’s men are two points shy of league leaders United with a game in hand and into the last-16 of the Champions League.

Here, we look at the key games within a battle on all fronts where the EFL Cup finalists will be missing their talisman.

Three-peat! @EASPORTSFIFA #TOTY pic.twitter.com/S8leLGwCvd

— Kevin De Bruyne (@DeBruyneKev) January 22, 2021

Cheltenham Town (A) – January 23

De Bruyne would probably have been rested for the weekend clash with League Two Cheltenham Town in any case, although the fifth round on February 10 also looks to be out of the question if City progress. In 16 appearances in the FA Cup, he has five goals and as many assists – claiming one of each in the 6-0 demolition of Watford in the 2019 final

West Brom (A) – January 26

City are back in Premier League action against Sam Allardyce’s relegation-threatened Baggies next week. De Bruyne has two goals and three assists against the Baggies in the competition but could not manage a goal involvement as Ilkay Gundogan and Raheem Sterling failed to convert his late crosses during December’s 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium. City have won nine games in a row across all competitions since that setback.

Sheff Utd (H) – January 30

Another relegation candidate follows, with bottom club Sheffield United facing a daunting trip to Manchester. De Bruyne created Sergio Aguero’s opener before completing the scoring for a 2-0 win in this fixture last season.

1 Team. 3 Points. 100 Assists. pic.twitter.com/jnn2gkDMSS

— Kevin De Bruyne (@DeBruyneKev) January 17, 2021

Burnley (A) – February 3

Perhaps surprisingly, giving City’s succession of recent 5-0 wins over Burnley, De Bruyne has never scored against Sean Dyche’s men in the Premier League. He does have three assists, including the decisive passes for Riyad Mahrez and Benjamin Mendy to net during the most recent mauling last November.

Liverpool (A) – February 7

De Bruyne scored from the penalty spot as City beat the recently crowned champions 4-0 last July, although he missed uncharacteristically from 12 yards in this season’s 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium. Even though none of his five Premier League assists against Liverpool have come at Anfield, he will be a huge miss when City chase a first win on the red side of Stanley Park since 2003.

Tottenham (H) – February 13

De Bruyne scored in each of his first three Premier League appearances against Spurs and set up both City goals as the sides shared a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Etihad last season. Jose Mourinho’s men were the last team to inflict a defeat upon City, 17 games ago.

Arsenal (A) – February 21

No Premier League team has conceded more goals to De Bruyne than Arsenal’s five. City’s number 17 scored twice and dazzled throughout in a 3-0 win at Emirates Stadium last term.

#GoalChain 

3. @DeBruyneKev‘s second against Arsenal this season really was a thing of beauty! @Arsenal, you’re up!

 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/4Y0wdjdHCC

— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 17, 2020

Borussia Monchengladbach (A) – February 24

UEFA named De Bruyne their Midfielder of the Season following his performances on City’s run to the quarter-finals in 2019-20. Despite his club’s patchy record in Europe’s top competition, the 29-year-old has seven goals and 15 assists in 37 Champions League appearances for the English side.

West Ham (H) – February 27

Rodri converted De Bruyne’s corner before the man himself rounded off a 2-0 win over West Ham when the teams met on February 19 last year. It was the last time fans were allowed into the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester United (H) – March 6

This could be the biggest Manchester derby for almost a decade given the state of play at the top of the table and must surely be the comeback target for De Bruyne. He opened the scoring in a 2-1 Premier League win at Old Trafford in 2016, a strike that remains his only goal involvement in seven league games against United.