Steph Houghton doesn’t think losing Ederson will be much of a blow to Manchester City.
Manchester City managed to hold on for a draw in a thrilling match-up with Liverpool on Sunday but the match proved costly.
A point was far from the worst result given City’s terrible record at Anfield, though Pep Guardiola will no doubt be disappointed his side let the lead slip.
John Stones had put the visitors ahead with a well-worked corner routine but Jurgen Klopp’s side came out firing after the break and levelled through an Alexis Mac Allister penalty.
It was Ederson who gave away the spot kick as he upended Darwin Nunez in the box following an under-hit backpass from Nathan Ake.
Though he stayed in the net to try and save the penalty, Ederson was injured in the challenge and had to leave the field shortly afterwards.
Stefan Ortega came on in his place and will be in the starting XI for the immediate future as well.
Ederson is expected to be out of action for four weeks, meaning he will miss games against Newcastle and Arsenal and potentially against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace as well.
Ortega will take the Brazilian’s place and Houghton thinks his performances in the cups bode well for City.
Steph Houghton on Stefan Ortega
Speaking on Football Daily, Houghton said: “They have to be ready.
“Take Ederson for example, he’s going to be out for the next four weeks.
“Psychologically it probably is a big difference for opponents likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, maybe teams who come and face City.
“But watching Ortega in the cup runs, I think he’s probably performed a little bit better than Ederson in some instances.
“Especially with the ball. I think Ederson’s had some mistakes in him.
“Take the penalty, does he need to necessarily come out and make a rash challenge when Nunez is coming through? He was never going to make that.
“But I think Ortega, there’s been a lot spoken about him, and he’s really developed into a really good goalkeeper.”
Let’s hope so
Houghton seems confident losing Ederson won’t come as much of a blow and City can only hope she’s right.
Ortega is a very capable stand-in goalkeeper, of that there is no question. But he isn’t on Ederson’s level.
If he was, then Guardiola simply would have played him more often than he has.
Ederson is absolutely crucial to how City tick as a team. His proactiveness off his line and composure on the ball allow City to press higher up the pitch and suffocate opponents.
Yes, the 30-year-old does have a bad mistake in him, as Sunday showed, but it’s a worthy sacrifice for all the positives he brings to the team.
Other than Rodri, City couldn’t have lost a more important player at a worse time.
