Man City vs Liverpool: preview, team news, how to watch and prediction

Manchester City will take on Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday lunchtime.

This game has become the most important fixture of English football in recent times as the Merseyside club and the Citizens have shared the last six Premier League titles with Pep Guardiola’s side winning five of those occasions.

Man City have become the English champions in the last three consecutive seasons and they have enjoyed a stellar start to this term as well. So, the Citizens are on course to mount yet another title charge with the intention of winning the Premier League title for a record four consecutive years.

Guardiola’s side are currently at the summit of the league with 27 points from 12 games. On the other hand, Liverpool are sitting second in the table with only one less point than the reigning champions.

So, the Merseyside club will be keen on winning this game to take their spot at the top of the table, bypassing Guardiola’s side. However, it will be extremely difficult for Jurgen Klopp’s side to beat Man City, especially given the game is at the Etihad Stadium.

Both sides like to play expansive and attacking brands of football. So, it is going to be a mouth-watering encounter for the football fans.

Previous meetings

Liverpool haven’t had a great time at the Etihad Stadium as they have only won once out of the last 14 away trips to Man City in the Premier League, losing eight of those encounters.

The Citizens defeated Liverpool in the previous game back in April, but they haven’t managed to beat the Merseyside club in two consecutive league encounters since the 1930s.

So, while Liverpool will be looking to beat Man City at the Etihad Stadium for the first time in eight years on Saturday, the Citizens will be eyeing to defeat the Reds in back-to-back league games for the first time in more than eight decades.

How to watch

The match will kick off at 12:30 UK time and the game will be televised live on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR.

As you’d expect, this game is set to be a sell-out at the Etihad but supporters can still buy Manchester City vs Liverpool tickets at reputable resellers such as seatsnet.com.

Team news

Man City have a few injury concerns ahead of this encounter as they will be without Kevin de Bruyne and Sergio Gómez due to their respective injury issues.

John Stones has been sidelined over the last few games owing to an injury and he might not be available for selection in this encounter. Ederson sustained a knock during international duty and there is a question mark about his availability ahead of this crucial fixture.

Erling Braut Haaland also sustained a knock during the international break, so he is in doubt ahead of this fixture. But, he should be fine to start for the Citizens in this crucial encounter.

Mateo Kovacic and Nathan Ake were among the absentees in the last game against Chelsea. But, while the Croatian may remain sidelined for this game, the Dutchman could return this weekend. Matheus Nunes is also expected to remain sidelined due to injury.

As for Liverpool, they will be without Andy Robertson, Thiago Alcántara and Stefan Bajcetic as they are currently unavailable owing to their respective injury problems.

There are question marks about the availability of Ryan Gravenberch, Joe Gomes, Ibrahima Konate and Curtis Jones, but they should be named among the matchday squad for this encounter.

Several of Liverpool’s crucial first-team players will have very little time to prepare for this game after returning from South America having featured for their country on Tuesday. So, it remains to be seen whether Jurgen Klopp opts to start any of them in this game.

Predicted line-up

Guardiola is likely to continue with his preferred 3-2-4-1 formation with Ederson should keep hold of his place in goal. Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias and Ake could commence in defence, while Rodri and Manual Akanji should be just in front of the back three.

Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden are likely to be patrolling on the flanks with Bernardo Silva and Julian Alvarez could be in the number ten position. Haaland should lead the line for the reigning champions.

Expected Man City line-up vs Liverpool

Ederson; Walker, Días, Ake; Akanji, Rodri; Doku, Álvarez, Silva, Foden; Haaland

As for Liverpool, Klopp will field his team in the 4-3-3 system with Alisson set to be between the sticks for the Merseyside club. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Konstantinos Tsimikas are likely to be the fullbacks, while Konate and Virgil van Dijk should be the centre-back pairing for Klopp’s side.

Alexis Mac Allister is set to commence in the deep-lying playmaker position with Dominik Szoboszlai and Gravenberch expected to be in the box-to-box role.

Luis Díaz could commence in the left-wing, while Mohamed Salah should be in the opposite flank. Darwin Nunez may lead the line for the Merseyside club.

Expected Liverpool line-up vs Man City

Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Díaz, Núñez, Salah

Key players

Man City play as a team so Liverpool will have to find some solution to stop the Citizens from playing their free-flowing football. Rodri has been the mainstay of creating plays from the back and Klopp will have to keep him away from the action as much as possible.

Haaland is the main goal-scorer for the Citizens so the Merseyside club’s defence will have to stop the Norwegian from scoring. Although that’s not going to be easy, Klopp’s side will have to do that if they are to come away victorious from this encounter.

The Citizens conceded four goals in their last game against Chelsea and the last time they conceded four or more, it was back in 2020 when Leicester City defeated Guardiola’s side 5-2. So, Man City’s backline needs to up their game in this encounter.

As for Liverpool, Salah has been the talismanic figure for the Merseyside club over the last few years and the Anfield club will be hoping that he will be able to show some magic and help his side come away with all three points from this game.

Núñez has been in excellent form this season and he can become a real hero for Liverpool if he guides his side to victory on Saturday by putting his name on the scoresheet.

The onus will be on Van Dijk to organise the defence and stop Haaland from finding space to score goals.

Prediction

Man City have been almost unbeatable at the Etihad Stadium in recent times so it won’t be easy for Liverpool to win this game. On the other hand, it won’t be easy for Guardiola’s side either to beat the Reds. Therefore, this is likely to be a close encounter and the match could end up in a draw. Man City 2-2 Liverpool