• City fear worst after midfielder went down in agony
• Absence would represent big blow to City’s title hopes

Rodri suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in Manchester City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday and may miss the rest of the season as a result, handing the champions a serious blow in their bid to win a fifth successive Premier League crown.

The 28-year-old was forced off after 21 minutes at the Etihad Stadium having gone down under minimal contact following a challenge by Thomas Partey inside the Arsenal area but in clear agony. City await further tests but fear the worst in regards to the availability of one of Pep Guardiola’s most important and influential players. As the manager said of the midfielder – who he rates as the best No 6 in the world – in March: “He is irreplaceable right now.”