Vincent Kompany, Fernandinho in Reported Bust-Up During Liverpool vs. Man City

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany was reportedly dropped after a half-time bust-up with team-mate Fernandinho during the side's 2-1 loss to Liverpool.

The Belgian defender sat out of City's recent win over Leicester, with Darren Lewis of the Mirror suggesting this was due to the player suffering a "meltdown" in the Anfield dressing room. Team-mates allegedly feared the exchange "would come to blows" when Fernandinho criticised Kompany's role in Jordan Henderson's opening goal.

Lewis provides detail:

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In the dressing room, Kompany was blasted by midfielder Fernandinho, who told him to pay more attention and to buck up his ideas for the second half. Kompany, however, insisted the Brazilian could not tell him what to do. The two are then said to have argued so furiously that others stepped in, fearing things would get out of hand.

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It is suggested City boss Manuel Pellegrini "sided with Fernandinho," telling Kompany the midfielder was "only trying to help," per Lewis' report. This is said to have increased the centre-back's anger, with Lewis' article claiming "he continued his tirade and rounded on anyone who challenged him."

Belgian journalist Kristof Terreur tweeted the Mirror's backpage, while pointing toward Kompany's usually good-natured reputation:

Pellegrini suggested Kompany was dropped to "refresh the team" against Leicester, per Phil McNulty of BBC Sport. Curiously, Fernandinho didn't even make it onto the bench during the Etihad tie, an odd decision when the side are frantically trying to keep Chelsea within arm's reach at the top of the Premier League.

Kompany has endured a difficult season. Usually so commanding on the edge of City's box, he continues to be caught out of position. He appears slow to react, unable to impose his physicality and struggling to form a profitable partnership with Eliaquim Mangala, who has had problems of his own.

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City face a string of must-win matches if they're to keep faint hopes of silverware alive. They travel to Burnley on Saturday, before the Champions League round-of-16 second-leg showdown with Barcelona on Mar. 18.

Trailing 2-1 after the opening fixture, City need to produce a response that makes the continent take notice. This must be led by the captain.

Kompany has so often proven to be a big-game player, someone who offers Joe Hart impenetrable protection. His form makes a difference to City's entire output. While not renowned for becoming angry or causing friction—Kompany has long been viewed as one of the game's gentle giants—his frustration has been evident on the pitch in recent times.

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It would be wrong to dismiss the player, however. Kompany is a strong character, and amid potentially serious reports, possesses the quality to come back strong.

Should City fail to overcome Barcelona, both Kompany and Pellegrini are likely to be examined thoroughly. Both have reached crunch time in their City timelines—the sink-or-swim moment which could determine their future—so must remind everyone why they have been given major responsibility at the club in the coming weeks.