Manchester City vs Liverpool Preview: Prediction, Probable Lineups, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats

Manchester City will host Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday, with both teams desperate to grab all three points.

Manchester City are currently second in the league table, eight points adrift of league leaders Arsenal ahead of the game against Liverpool. However, Pep Guardiola’s side have a game in hand and will be hoping to reduce the deficit to five points with a victory over Liverpool. The home side come into this game on the back of five wins and a draw in their last six league outings.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have picked up four wins and a draw from their last six matches. They were beaten by Bournemouth in their last Premier League game before the international break. So the Reds will be hoping to bounce back strongly.

Liverpool have beaten Manchester City twice this season, but they lost 3-2 at the Etihad in the League Cup. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top here. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics

Manchester City

Pep Guardiola will be without the services of Phil Foden, who has been ruled out until May after his appendix surgery. Erling Haaland remains a doubt for the home side and will be assessed closer to kick-off.

Manchester City are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Ederson Moraes in goal. John Stones is likely to be deployed as the central defender alongside Ruben Dias. In the full-back positions, Kyle Walker should start on the right and Nathan Ake on the left. The two full-backs will add width and creativity while attacking while looking to protect the central defenders.

In the midfield, Spanish international Rodri will start alongside Ilkay Gundogan. While the German midfielder will look to control the tempo of the game and add creativity to the side, Rodri will look to break up the opposition play and win the ball back for Manchester City. Kevin De Bruyne should reprise the no. 10 role, looking to link the midfield with the attack and create opportunities for his teammates.

Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish will be deployed in the wide areas and the two players will look to add creativity and width to the side. Erling Haaland missed the international break with a knock. And despite seemingly missing training on Thursday, the Norwegian international should return on Saturday.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Ake; Rodri, Gundogan; Silva, De Bruyne, Grealish; Haaland

Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp will be without the services of Thiago Alcantara, Calvin Ramsay, Stefan Bajcetic and Joe Gomez. However, the Reds will be boosted with the return of Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz. Diaz has resumed full training, and he could make his first appearance since October.

Liverpool are likely to continue in their 4-3-3 formation, with Alisson Becker in goal. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson will start as the full-backs, and they will look to add creativity going forward. Ibrahima Konate will start alongside Virgil van Dijk at the centre of the defence.

In the midfield, Fabinho will start as the defensive anchor, and he will look to break up the opposition’s play. Harvey Elliott and Jordan Henderson are set to start alongside him. While Elliott will look to add creativity and flair from the central areas, Henderson will add drive and defensive cover.

Cody Gakpo is set to lead the line for the visitors with Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez on either side of him. So Diaz and Diogo Jota will be among the backup options on the bench for Klopp and Liverpool.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Elliott, Fabinho, Henderson; Salah, Gakpo, Nunez

Key Stats

• Liverpool have lost just one of their last five matches against Manchester City (W3 D1).
• Liverpool have kept five clean sheets in their last six Premier League matches.
• Out of 41 previous meetings, Manchester City have won nine matches while Liverpool won 17 times. 15 games between them have ended in a draw.
• Manchester City have won five of their last six league matches.
• Manchester City have kept five clean sheets in their last five matches across all competitions.

Player to Watch

Erling Haaland

The 22-year-old Manchester City striker is in the form of his life, and he could cause all sorts of problems for Liverpool’s vulnerable defence. And despite some fitness issues surrounding him, he will likely start on Saturday.

Haaland has scored eight goals in his last two appearances for Manchester City, and he will be determined to get on the scoresheet. The 22-year-old has struggled against Liverpool this season, and he will be desperate to make his mark this time around.

Prediction

Manchester City 3-1 Liverpool

The home side are undoubtedly the better team here, and they will be the favourites heading into this contest. Liverpool have been quite inconsistent this season and are likely to struggle against an in-form Manchester City side away from home.

The reigning Premier League champions have lost just once at home this season. In addition, they are up against the side that has won just three of their 13 away matches in the league this season. So The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Manchester City at home.