Pep Guardiola faces biggest test of 'undroppable' theory at Man City vs Liverpool FC

It says much to the form of Julian Alvarez this season that there is no panic to bring Kevin De Bruyne back too quickly for Manchester City.

De Bruyne's season was cut cruelly short after just 22 minutes of the opening Premier League game against Burnley, the Belgian midfielder suffering a recurrence of a stubborn hamstring issue and requiring surgery. He is expected to be out until at least the turn of the year but it helps that his creative presence has not been sorely missed.

The 32-year-old played notably higher up the pitch last season, acting more as a No.10 rather than the attacking No.8 he had been before Erling Haaland's arrival. And perhaps that more advanced position has been of benefit to Alvarez, naturally a No.9 but built perfectly for the supporting role.

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Alvarez started that win at Turf Moor in August and has started every Premier League game since, registering an impressive four goals and three assists in the process. In the world of Guardiola's unpredictable rotation policy, the Argentinian has been as close to nailed as they come.

Such has been the 23-year-old's importance that Guardiola has thrown him straight back in after both international breaks. Argentina had twice played into the early hours of Wednesday morning and yet Alvarez was straight onto the plane, into training and into the starting line-up for the following weekend.

"We had doubts because he came from Bolivia with the jet lag, he was so tired the day before yesterday," Guardiola said after Alvarez got two assists against West Ham just days after the September break. "He felt better and we spoke with