Manchester City vs Liverpool – preview, lineups, injuries, and predicted score

In a highly anticipated Premier League clash, Manchester City is set to host Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Both teams are coming off contrasting results in their previous league outings, with Man City securing a 4-4 draw against Chelsea and Liverpool claiming a 3-0 victory over Brentford.

Pep Guardiola’s side currently leads the Premier League table with 28 points from 12 games, closely followed by Liverpool in the 2nd position with 27 points from the same number of matches. The last encounter between these two football powerhouses took place in April, with Man City emerging victorious with a 4-1 scoreline.

Man City’s Team News:

Erling Haaland, Man City’s prolific goal scorer, missed Norway’s recent Euro 2024 qualifier due to an ankle problem sustained in their win over Bournemouth. Goalkeeper Ederson is also facing a foot concern, while Sergio Gomez (ankle), Mateo Kovacic (thigh), and Nathan Ake (knock) are sidelined. Kevin De Bruyne (hamstring), John Stones (thigh), and Matheus Nunes are also set to miss the game.

However, Julian Alvarez is expected to step up as a capable replacement for Haaland, and the Argentina international is confident about his fitness. Haaland himself is optimistic about featuring after training ahead of the clash.

Liverpool’s Team News:

Liverpool’s medical team will make late decisions on players like Joe Gomez (knock), Ryan Gravenberch (knee injury), Ibrahima Konate (hamstring injury), and Curtis Jones (hamstring injury). Fortunately, all four players have trained with the team. Andrew Robertson (shoulder injury), Stefan Bajcetic (calf injury), and Thiago Alcantara (hip injury) will be unavailable for Jurgen Klopp.

Klopp will assess the fitness of his South American contingent, including Alisson, Luis Diaz, Alexis Mac Allister, and Darwin Nunez.

Probable Starting XIs:

Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Silva, Rodri, Foden, Doku, Grealish, and Haaland.

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Jota, Gakpo, and Salah.

Prediction:

Our correspondent predicts a narrow victory for Manchester City, with the match concluding 2-1 in favor of the home side. The kick-off time for Manchester City vs Liverpool is scheduled for 1:30 pm. Football enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting this showdown between two top-tier teams in the Premier League.