City to plug Rodri gap

Manchester City must prove they can cope without influential midfielder Rodri as the Premier League champions head to Newcastle.

Erik ten Hag will be under pressure to get Manchester United back on track against Tottenham, while Arne Slot has an embarrassment of riches at Liverpool.

A pall of gloom descended on the Etihad Stadium when Rodri crumpled to the turf after a collision with Thomas Partey in the first half of last Sunday's bruising 2-2 draw with Arsenal.

Rodri has become indispensible to Pep Guardiola's team and that knowledge was at the core of the audible anxiety when the Spain star limped off with knee ligament damage.

The 28-year-old, one of the leading contenders to win this year's prestigious Ballon d'Or award, is expected to be sidelined for several months in a major blow to City's hopes of winning the Premier League title for a fifth successive season.