Liverpool will host Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday afternoon, with a lot at stake in the title race this weekend.
Liverpool will look to extend their lead at the top of the table, while Manchester City will look to smash the gap and overtake the Reds when the two sides lock horns at Anfield on Sunday.
The two teams are separated by just one point in the league table, and this could prove to be a critical game in the title race. A defeat here could be a devastating blow for Liverpool and similarly, Manchester City will fall further behind if they falter here.
Both teams are in impressive form right now, and there should be a fierce contest between two of the best teams in the league. In addition, Arsenal are breathing down their necks and play Brentford at home on Saturday. So, neither side can afford to slip up here. The Gunners could easily go to the top of the table if Liverpool and Manchester City end up dropping points.
Team News & Tactics
Liverpool
Joel Matip is sidelined for the season with a ruptured ACL, while Alisson Becker continues to miss out with a thigh injury. Meanwhile, Diogo Jota is also expected to return next month after suffering MCL damage.
Trent Alexander Arnold misses out with LCL damage and Curtis Jones is sidelined with an ankle injury. Ryan Gravenberch also picked up an ankle problem recently, and he will miss out. Liverpool will shape up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Caoimhin Kelleher in goal.
Joe Gomez could be deployed as the right-back here, with Andrew Robertson on the left. The two players will look to keep things compact at the back and help out during attacking situations. Ibrahima Konate will start alongside Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence.
In the midfield, Wataru Endo will start as the defensive midfielder, and he will be expected to break up Manchester City attacks and protect the defensive unit. Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister will add creativity and drive to the Liverpool midfield.
Darwin Nunez is in impressive form, and he will lead the line for Liverpool against Manchester City, with Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz on either side of him. So, Cody Gakpo will be an option on the bench for the home side.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Kelleher; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Endo, Mac Allister; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
Manchester City
Jack Grealish misses out with a groin injury. Manchester City have a fully-fit squad apart from that. The away side are likely to shape up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Ederson Moraes taking his place in goal.
Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake will start as the full-backs, and they will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. John Stones will start alongside Ruben Dias in the central defensive unit.
Rodri will start in his usual defensive midfield role, and he will look to mop up Liverpool attacks and break up the play. Kevin De Bruyne and Julian Alvarez will start in the attacking midfield roles, and they will look to link up with Erling Haaland and create goalscoring opportunities.
Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden are likely to be deployed in the wide areas. They will look to add with, creativity and control to the midfield. So, Jeremy Doku will be an option on the bench for the away side.
Probable Lineup (4-1-4-1): Ederson; Walker, Dias, Stones, Ake; Rodri; Silva, Alvarez, De Bruyne; Foden; Haaland
Key Stats
- Manchester City have won nine of their last ten matches in the Premier League.
- Liverpool are undefeated in 24 of their last 25 home matches against Manchester City in all competitions.
- Liverpool have won eight of their last nine matches in the Premier League.
- 22 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two teams.
- Both teams have won the last five matches across all competitions.
Player to Watch
Darwin Nunez
The 24-year-old is in impressive form right now, amassing 16 goals and 11 assists across all competitions. Nunez has nine goals and three assists in his last ten matches for Liverpool, and he has scored in each of his last four outings. He will look to get on the scoresheet here and help Liverpool grind out a priceless win.
Prediction
Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City
Both teams are in impeccable form right now, and this will be a close contest. It will be difficult to separate the two teams, and both Liverpool and Manchester City will be aware that a defeat here could be catastrophic.
There could be a cautious approach from the two teams, but an exciting game is on the cards nonetheless. The two sides are likely to cancel each other out in a draw. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-2 stalemate this weekend.