Pep Guardiola has not left Kyle Walker for Manchester City’s match against Aston Villa, which will kick off at 12:30 p.m.
The City captain has been forced to settle for a place on the bench for a critical clash in which the hosts could overtake the champions with a victory.
He is one of six absent from the 2-1 defeat against Manchester United, with Rico Lewis taking his place while Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku also drop to the bench.
It comes after Walker, 34, was widely ridiculed for a theatrical performance in last weekend’s Manchester derby, when he fell to the ground after a face-to-face confrontation with United’s Rasmus Hojlund.
Walker theatrically threw himself to the ground in an apparent attempt to fake an injury, a move that has drawn widespread ridicule.
Roy Keane led the criticism of the England international, telling Sky Sports: “Walker must be embarrassed for going down like that. Look at this. I don’t know the guy and I’m embarrassed.”
Piers Morgan said in response: ‘Morgan said in response: ‘Well said, Mr Keane. Absolutely pathetic of Walker.
Pep Guardiola left out Kyle Walker for Manchester City’s trip to Aston Villa
It has been a challenging season for the City captain amid mistakes, fitness issues and a divorce battle with Annie Kilner.
He fell theatrically after going toe-to-toe with Rasmus Hojlund, sparking anger.
It has been a difficult season for Walker, who has made a series of high-profile errors and has struggled to regain full fitness.
City have won 11 games in all competitions this season and only two of them came when Walker started.
The champions bought Walker for £45million in 2017 and he has given them back handsomely, although this campaign is a challenge.
After the game against United, which City lost 2-1 in a late collapse, many fans took the opportunity to make allusions to Walker’s troubled personal life, which saw him split from ex-wife Annie Kilner last December after who was revealed to be the father. two children with influencer Lauryn Goodman.
Walker is now in the middle of a divorce battle with Ms Kilner, who is preparing to fight for half of his £27million fortune.
The childhood sweethearts met in Sheffield when they were teenagers, but Walker has been embroiled in a series of scandals over the years.
Anger over Walker’s on-field antics on Sunday grew quickly.
Gary Neville compared Walker’s behavior to a notorious incident in 2004 when he headbutted City midfielder Steve McManaman during an FA Cup clash.
“I did this in a derby against McManaman many years ago and got sent off for it,” Neville said. ‘It’s about whether you’ve done that forward tilt of your head.
Walker pushed him and made him stumble. I’m not sure, no. It’s poor on Walker’s part, the initial contact he doesn’t go down on. He will feel a little embarrassed when he sees it back.
Television replays later revealed that no significant contact between the pair had caused Walker to collapse, and both men were reprimanded for their part in the incident.
Alan Sugar also weighed in on the incident, writing in X: ‘Walker fell like he had been hit by a train. He should receive a red card for acting.
Football writer Sam Pilger added: “Kyle Walker has embarrassed himself there. Naked cheating.
The Athletic’s JJ Bull wanted a harsher punishment than the single yellow card Walker received, saying: “Honestly, I sent Kyle Walker off for that.”
Former Dutch icon and Crystal Palace boss Frank De Boer said he was “furious” with Walker.
‘If Kyle Walker sees that clip again, surely he can’t take himself seriously anymore?! “It makes me furious,” he told Dutch television.
This seems ridiculous to me! And he’s even still lying on the ground! This is ruining our game of football, look how they treat each other in rugby and then look at this.’
More to follow.