'It doesn't look good' - Pep Guardiola fears injuries could cost Manchester City title

Central defenders Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias limped off during City's draw with Chelsea and join a casualty list that already includes John Stones and Nico Gonzalez.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola applauds the fans. Pic: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.

Pep Guardiola fears an injury crisis could derail Manchester City's Premier League title hopes even further after an injury-time Enzo Fernandez equaliser saw his team concede more ground to Arsenal at the top of the table.

City trail the Gunners by six points after Chelsea's Argentine midfielder forced them to settle for a second successive draw which was compounded by seeing central defenders Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias limp off to join a casualty list that already includes John Stones and Nico Gonzalez.

City entertain Brighton and Hove Albion on Wednesday night knowing that another slip could prove fatal in their bid to keep the Gunners in their sights.

Guardiola said: "We will see tomorrow but it doesn't look good. With Josko and Ruben, we'll see what happens.

"We have a lot of injuries. John Stones is missing for I don't know how many months. Ruben now will be out, Josko will be out. Nathan Ake? Always we know with Nathan that he cannot play regularly.

"That's the situation. Stay strong and we will find a solution. The spirit is there and will be there, but of course I have concerns. Have you seen the bench today? Four players from the academy - and now we will have more. We don't have players."

Asked if the crisis could force City to go into the transfer market for reinforcements this month as they pursue a £65million deal for Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo, the City manager added: "I don't think so but we'll see what happens because I know Ruben is a big loss and Josko is a big loss."

Guardiola refused to speculate on whether his team's title hopes have been irrevocably damaged by successive draws just a week into the new year.

He said: "I don't have a crystal ball. I won't speak about it . I only think about Brighton.

"I thought our performance was outstanding. But we couldn't take our chances to score a second, third and fourth goal. We missed the goal after arriving in the six-yard box so many times."