Liverpool will face Manchester City in a Carabao Cup clash on Thursday night, hoping to start the second half of the season on a winning note.
Liverpool have made a mediocre start to the season by the standards, and Jurgen Klopp will be looking to get things back on track now, starting with the game against Manchester City.
The Reds managed to beat Manchester City earlier on in the season in a Premier League clash. And the Premier League champions will be hoping to dump the Carabao Cup holders out of the competition by returning the favour at the Etihad on Thursday.
Manchester City have failed to win any of the last five matches against Liverpool, and they will be desperate to make amends here. Pep Guardiola will have most of his key players fit and ready for the game, and the home side will certainly be the favourites heading into the contest. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
We return to action on Thursday 🙌
A trip to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup awaits 🔜 pic.twitter.com/yIKL3GiTvu
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 20, 2022
Team News & Tactics
Manchester City
Manchester City will be without the services of Julian Alvarez because of his involvement in the World Cup final with Argentina on Sunday. The striker is likely to be handed a short break before he returns to action for his club.
Manchester City are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Stefan Ortega in goal. Rico Lewis and Sergio Gomez are likely to start as the full-backs here. And at the heart of the defence, Ruben Dias will partner with Aymeric Laporte.
Ilkay Gundogan is well-rested after Germany’s early exit from the 2022 FIFA World Cup. And the Manchester City captain will start alongside Rodri in the midfield pivot.
As for the offensive unit, Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish will start in the wide areas, with Cole Palmer as the number ten. Erling Haaland has had a much-needed break, and he will return to lead the line for Manchester City against Liverpool.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ortega; Lewis, Dias, Laporte, Gomez; Rodri, Gundogan; Mahrez, Palmer, Grealish; Haaland
Liverpool
Liverpool have a number of injury problems heading into the midweek game. Jurgen Klopp will be without Arthur Melo, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota. All three players are long-term absentees for the Merseyside outfit.
Meanwhile, Ibrahima Konate played in the World Cup final and he will be given a short break. The Reds are likely to start in a 4-3-3 with Caoimhin Kelleher taking his usual spot between the sticks.
Calvin Ramsay and Andrew Robertson will start as the full-backs here. And at the heart of the Liverpool defence, Joe Gomez is likely to partner with the fit again Joel Matip.
In the midfield, Thiago Alcantara is likely to partner Naby Keita and Harvey Elliott. Finally, the front three will comprise of Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah in the wide areas and Roberto Firmino as the centre forward.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Kelleher; Ramsay, Gomez, Matip, Robertson; Elliott, Keita, Thiago; Salah, Firmino, Nunez
Key Stats
- The most common result of matches between Manchester City and Liverpool is 2-2. Nine matches have ended with this result.
- During the last 60 meetings, Manchester City have won 11 times, there have been 21 draws while Liverpool FC have won 28 times.
- During the last 27 meetings with Manchester City playing at home, Manchester City have won nine times; there have been 11 draws while Liverpool have won 7 times.
- When playing at home, Manchester City have not lost to Liverpool in their last four encounters.
- Liverpool have lost none of their last five games against Manchester City in all competitions.
Player to Watch
Erling Haaland
The Norwegian striker has been in splendid form since joining Manchester City, and he will be our key man to watch out for tomorrow.
Haaland struggled to hit top form against Liverpool in his last two outings, and the 21-year-old will be desperate to get on the score sheet here. He was well-rested during the World Cup break, and will be raring to fire on all cylinders during the second half of the campaign.
Liverpool have a number of key defenders missing after the World Cup, and the Norwegian striker could look to take advantage of that and punish the visitors.
Erling Haaland can't wait 😈 pic.twitter.com/zoScpofZpz
— GOAL (@goal) December 20, 2022
Prediction
Manchester City 2-0 Liverpool
The home side will have most of their key players fit for this game, and they will be up against a makeshift Liverpool eleven.
Key players like Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk will be missing because of their participation at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and Manchester City have enough quality to punish a weakened Liverpool side on Thursday.
