Stefan Ortega might face ultimate Man City test vs Liverpool straight away

Back in early April, against Liverpool, the FA Cup semi-final proved to be an off-day for a lot of Manchester City players, including the goalkeeper Zack Steffen.

After a gruelling but ultimately successful Champions League quarter-final bout with Atletico Madrid, Pep Guardiola's side — fresh from suffering 71 different injuries in that midweek tussle, according to the boss — had to dust themselves down and go again at Wembley Stadium. Standing in their way this time was arguably one of Europe's best teams, coached by one of the best managers.

It was always going to be a tough assignment and Liverpool's freshness was on full display in the first 30 minutes. Their dogged pressing led to multiple errors and the Reds got a strangle-hold of the game before City could even catch their breath.

ALSO READ: Four winners and three losers from Man City pre-season tour of United States

Ibrahima Konaté scored from a corner and Sadio Mané slotted in nicely with his left-foot, but it was the second Liverpool goal that grabbed all the headlines. Steffen, trying to keep possession, dawdled on the ball for too long on his own goal-line and allowed Mané to slide in and deflect the ball into the goal.

The US international was usually so reliable with his feet, but the occasion had clearly got to him, and despite City's best efforts, it was the goal that put the contest just out of reach.

Steffen never really recovered from that day and has since gone on a season-long-loan to Championship side, Middlesbrough. The idea is for him to get valuable minutes before his country's adventures in the Qatar World Cup, but City's newest signing means a return looks highly unlikely.

The man in question is Stefan Ortega, who the Blues secured on a