Kyle Walker has been dropped by Pep Guardiola for Manchester City’s trip to Aston Villa, with kick-off at 12.30pm.
City’s captain has been forced to settle for a place on the bench for a critical clash which could see the hosts overtake he champions with a win.
He is one of six casualties from the 2-1 defeat by 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 play-acting dive in last weekend’s Manchester derby – as he went to ground after a head-to-head confrontation with United’s Rasmus Hojlund.
Walker theatrically threw himself to the floor in an apparent attempt to feign an injury – a move that has attracted widespread mockery.
Roy Keane led criticism of the England international, telling Sky Sports: ‘Walker must be embarrassed, to go down like that. Look at this. I don’t know the guy and I’m embarrassed for him.’
Piers Morgan said in response: ‘Morgan said in response: ‘Well said, Mr Keane. Absolutely pathetic from Walker.’
Kyle Walker has been dropped by Pep Guardiola 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 went down theatrically after coming head-to-head with Rasmus Hojlund, sparking anger
It has been a difficult season for Walker, who has made a series of high-profile errors and struggled to find full fitness.
City have won 11 matches in all competitions this season and only two of those have come when Walker has started.
The champions bought Walker for £45million in 2017 and he has repaid them abundantly, though this campaign is a challenge.
After the United game – which City lost 2-1 in a late collapse – many fans took the opportunity to draw allusions to Walker’s troubled personal life, which saw him separate from his ex-wife Annie Kilner last December after he was revealed to have fathered two children with the influencer Lauryn Goodman.
Walker is now in the midst of a divorce battle with Ms Kilner, who is preparing to fight for half of his £27million fortune.
The childhood sweethearts met in Sheffield as teenagers but Walker has been embroiled in a series of scandals over the years.
Anger at Walker’s on-pitch antics on Sunday mounted quickly.
Gary Neville likened Walker’s behaviour 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 whether he’s made that rock of his head forward.
‘Walker’s pushed him over and tripped him. I’m not sure, no. It’s poor from Walker, the initial contact he doesn’t go down on. He’ll be a little bit embarrassed when he sees that one back.’
TV replays later revealed that no significant contact between the pair had prompted Walker’s collapse, and both men were booked for their involvement in the incident.
Alan Sugar also weighed in on the incident, writing on X: ‘Walker went down like he was hit by a train. He should get a red card for acting.’
Football writer Sam Pilger added: ‘Kyle Walker has embarrassed himself there. Naked cheating.’
The Athletic’s JJ Bull was keen for a more stern punishment than the single yellow card Walker received, saying: ‘Honestly, send Kyle Walker off for that.’
Former Netherlands icon and Crystal Palace boss Frank De Boer said he was ‘furious’ at Walker.
‘If Kyle Walker watches that clip back, surely he can’t take himself seriously anymore?! It makes me furious,’ he said on Dutch TV.
‘I find this ridiculous! And he even keeps laying on the ground! This is screwing up our game of football, look at how they treat each other in Rugby, and then look at this.’
More to follow.
