Kyle Walker dropped after 'embarrassing' Manchester derby antics as Man City suffer another injury blow with Ederson sidelined ahead of Aston Villa clash

The City defender collapsed holding his face after a light coming-together with Rasmus Hojlund, after which both players were booked. This moment — which Roy Keane labelled "embarrassing" — compounded a miserable run for Walker, with the 34-year-old repeatedly looking out of his depth in recent weeks as his team has fallen to eight defeats in 11. Guardiola reacted by dropping the England international for their fixture against Aston Villa.

Walker's childish antics on Sunday sparked a serious backlash from both City fans and the wider football world. X users labelled the right-back a "disgrace" and called his diving "pathetic", and Guardiola's decision to drop the Englishman suggests he wasn't impressed either. Walker has started City's last seven matches but will be forced to watch proceedings from the bench at Villa.

Guardiola is currently enduring by far the worst patch of form of his managerial career; City's eight losses in their last 11 games is many defeats as they recorded in the previous 106 fixtures, a remarkable drop off for the current champions. An increasingly under-pressure Guardiola — who is "to blame for what is happening", according to former United star Dwight Yorke — is trying everything he can to save this hellish season for City.

Given Pep's penchant for rotation (and his side's busy festive schedule) it's possible Walker will be required back on the pitch soon. He remains a senior head in the dressing room, and in form this patchy, experience can be vital. Still, with City expected to spend big in January to address the slump, we could see Walker's first-team place become even more precarious in the coming weeks.