Neil Warnock has risk the wrath of Liverpool after threatening to field Cardiff’s U23s against Manchester City this week.
Cardiff boss Warnock was fuming after a refereeing error cost his side dear in their 2-1 defeat to Chelsea .
Chelsea were headed for defeat at Cardiff City Stadium until Cesar Azpilicueta‘s 84th-minute equaliser from an offside position.
And Cardiff’s heartbreak was complete when substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek headed in a winner in added time.
Cardiff are away to reigning champions Manchester City on Wednesday, before trips to face relegation rivals Burnley and Brighton .
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
And furious Warnock threatened to rest his key players by playing an U23 side on Wednesday – which would clearly hand Pep Guardiola‘s men an advantage in their compelling title battle against current Premier League leaders Liverpool .
“We keep getting knock-backs. I will probably play the U23s on Wednesday against Manchester City and try to keep it down to 10 or 11,” Warnock said in quotes reported by The Sun .
“It doesn’t matter who you play at the minute, it is who has a flag in his hand and who has a whistle.”
(Image: 2019 Getty Images)
Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League with their win over Tottenham on Sunday, but they have played a game more than Manchester City. A win for Guardiola’s side on Wednesday would take the reigning champions back to the top by a single point.
So Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will no doubt be keeping a close eye on which team Warnock fields.
The Cardiff boss risks a fine from the Premier League if he makes wholesale changes.
The Premier League set a precedent back in 2010 when Wolves were hit with a £25,000 fine after Mick McCarthy made 10 changes to his team to take on Manchester United .
