Manchester City fans were left wondering about the absence of Abdukodir Khusanov from the matchday squad as the Premier League champions prepared to face Brentford on Saturday evening. The Uzbekistan international, who has been a rising figure in Pep Guardiola's setup, was notably missing from the team sheet for this crucial fixture at the Etihad Stadium.

City entered the match needing nothing less than a victory to keep their title hopes alive, following a disappointing 3-3 draw against Everton on Monday night. That result had already put pressure on Guardiola's side, making every game a must-win scenario in the tightly contested Premier League race.

In a reshuffled lineup, Guardiola made two changes to the starting XI that faced Everton. Nathan Ake and Tijjani Reijnders were brought in to replace Khusanov and Nico Gonzalez, signaling a tactical shift aimed at securing the three points against a resilient Brentford side.

The injury list for City remains a concern, with Rodri still sidelined as he recovers from a calf injury sustained during a 2-1 victory over Arsenal back in April. Josko Gvardiol, who had returned to full first-team training earlier this week, was also unavailable for selection, adding to Guardiola's defensive headaches.

However, there was a glimmer of positive news as Ruben Dias was deemed fit enough to take a place on the bench. His availability provides a much-needed boost for City's backline as they look to tighten up defensively and apply pressure on title rivals Arsenal, who face West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday.

According to Manchester City's official channels, Khusanov's absence was due to him "not being fully fit" for the clash. The exact nature and extent of his fitness issue remain unclear, but it's a setback for the young defender who has been making strides in his debut season at the club. With the match kicking off at 17:30 UK time, City fans will be hoping for a strong performance that keeps their title dreams alive, even without Khusanov in the squad.