Man City takes advantage of rare Premier League rule vs Liverpool after sickening injury blow
Manchester City was forced to make a change after Abdukodir Khusanov suffered a sickening injury blow against Liverpool, with Pep Guardiola able to take advantage of a rare rule
James Findlater Content Editor
18:05, 08 Feb 2026Updated 18:20, 08 Feb 2026
Abdukodir Khusanov was forced off during the second half for Manchester City against Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Manchester City was able to take advantage of a rare Premier League rule against Liverpool after being forced into a second half change at Anfield.
With the game still goalless, Abdukodir Khusanov was forced off after colliding with Gianluigi Donnarumma as he tried to prevent Cody Gakpo from getting a sight of goal. As the ball was cleared away, all three players fell to the ground, with Donnarumma’s knee hitting his defender hard in the head.
The City goalkeeper looked noticeably concerned as he called for attention from the visitors’ medical team, although Khusanov was able to walk off the pitch following treatment.
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Despite Khusanov seemingly telling Pep Guardiola he was okay to continue, City’s medical team overruled the defender, with Ruben Dias called from the bench to replace him.
Given the nature of his injury though, City was able to send Dias on as a concussion substitute, taking advantage of a rule that is rarely seen in the Premier League.
Since a trial of the system in 2021, teams have been able to substitute players showing signs of concussion, with the replacements serving as extra changes away from the five regular substitution opportunities.
Manchester City used a concussion substitution to replace Khusanov against Liverpool
Unlike the original trial, which permitted teams to make two concussion substitutions during any game, only one is now permitted, meaning should City have to replace another player due to concussion, a regular substitution would have to be made.
Khusanov’s substitution came with game at Anfield finely poised, with neither side having broken the deadlock at that point.
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Liverpool would go on to open the scoring thanks to another spectacular Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick, with the midfielder – who was once again filling in at right-back – rocketing the ball home from distance as Donnarumma could only watch on.
City though would equalize 10 minutes later through Bernardo Silva, leading to a hectic final few minutes as both sides chased victory, knowing that a draw wouldn’t suit either.
Liverpool began the day five points off the top four, following wins for Manchester United and Chelsea on Saturday, while City was nine points off leaders Arsenal ahead of kick-off.
