Football
Rob Dawson, Correspondent 4y

Manchester City will 'try to win the game' at Liverpool - Fernandinho

MILAN -- Manchester City will attack Liverpool "from the first minute" at Anfield on Sunday, according to Fernandinho, despite facing a crippling injury crisis.

Goalkeeper Ederson is the latest member of Pep Guardiola's squad to be struck down after picking up a thigh injury during the draw with Atalanta in Milan on Wednesday night.

Aymeric Laporte, Leroy Sane, David Silva, Rodri and Oleksandr Zinchenko are already sidelined but Fernandinho insists the champions will still head to Anfield looking for a first win since 2003.

"We go there and try to win the game," said the Brazil international midfielder.

"The mentality is always try to win the game. Sunday we go there and try to win the game from the first minute.

"We are searching for this first time to win at Anfield. I am confident we can go there and try to win the game."

City are the last team to inflict a Premier League defeat on Liverpool, winning 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium in January.

Of the XI that started that day, Vincent Kompany and Danilo have left while Ederson, Laporte, Silva and Sane are either injured or significant doubts.

Ederson underwent a scan on his injured thigh on Thursday and will have more tests before the meeting with Liverpool, who head into the game six points clear at the top of the table.

Sources have told ESPN FC that Ederson will have to prove he is 100 percent fit before he is considered for selection and otherwise No. 2 Claudio Bravo, who was sent off against Atalanta, will make his first league start for more than a year.

"In difficult situations like this we have to stick together," said Fernandinho.

"This is important because we are building a team to be champions. It is good because everybody is understanding what we are building.

"Of course, we will see with Ederson's situation. We are going to train and the medical staff are going to check him and we are going to see if he will be fit or not for Sunday.

"As I say, we go there Sunday and try to win the game."

Meanwhile, sources have told ESPN FC that City have sought assurances from Liverpool bosses that there will be no repeat of the attack on the team bus that marred the Champions League quarterfinal trip to Anfield in April 2018.

City were forced to find a replacement bus after the attack with bottles, can and flares caused significant damage including smashed windows. Liverpool later apologised for the incident.

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