Pep admits he didn't want to risk De Bruyne

PEP Guardiola decided not to risk Kevin de Bruyne against Liverpool as he didn't want to lose him for the Premier League fixture with Brighton on Wednesday.

- TYRONE MARSHALL

The City midfielder wasn't expected to be available for the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, but he was surprisingly named among the substitutes just three days after limping out of the draw with Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Guardiola revealed De Bruyne had required stitches in a foot injury on Friday but felt he was fit enough to be a part of the squad to face Liverpool.

The Belgian spent part of the second half warming up on the Wembley touchline but City only used one substitute, bringing Riyad Mahrez on for Gabriel Jesus for the final seven minutes.