Liverpool vs Manchester City: Match Preview

At the same time, the Reds cannot afford to show any complacency which has troubled them since last season. Liverpool need to take their out-of-form rivals seriously and forget their recent problems for the 90 minutes of the game.

On the other hand, Man City have struggled recently, failing to win any of their last six matches across all competitions. Their defence has appeared vulnerable, conceding 17 goals since late October, and their lack of composure in decisive moments was a recurring issue.

Despite their slump, City still possesses the quality to turn their luck at any point in the season. A potential victory at Anfield over their title rival is the result that Pep Guardiola would demand from his team.

Team News and Predicted Line-ups

Liverpool Team News:

Liverpool faces challenges with injuries to key players, Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate, during the midweek against Real. The Reds are already missing Alisson Becker, Kostas Tsimikas and Diogo Jota due to injuries while Federico Chiesa regains fitness.

The Madrid performance could demand a repeat of the same players for the Man City game with few forced changes. At the same time, Cody Gakpo could return to the starting lineup, ahead of Luis Diaz as a straight swap.

Both in-form players have played a pivotal role this season and Slot needs to keep them fit with rotation. Dominik Szoboszlai could replace in-form Curtis Jones in a starting lineup as another change made due to fixture congestion. However, it will not come as a surprise if Jones maintains his place after a fantastic performance against Madrid.

Joe Gomez could play ahead of Jarell Quansah as Virgil van Dijk’s partner in the absence of Konate. While Quansah has a solid claim, he has struggled with mistakes at the start of this season and this game is too big to take any risk which could hurt both the players’ psyche and the team.

Predicted Line-up: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo.

Manchester City Team News:

Man City are travelling to Merseyside without Mateo Kovacic, Oscar Bob and Rodri while John Stones remains a major doubt. Ruben Dias has bolstered Guardiola’s team with his return from injury and could start the game against the Reds immediately.

The six poor decisions will force Guardiola’s hand in the game where they cannot afford anything less than three points. Kevin De Bruyne has not started the game since his return from injury but his creativity is a requirement.

IIkay Gundogan and Mathus Nunes could partner De Bruyne after a bright display from Nunez against Feyenoord in the midweek. Bernardo Silva and Salvinho are the potential partners for Erling Haaland amid Phil Foden and Jack Grealish’s struggles against Feyenoord.

Predicted Line-up: Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Gvardiol, Ake; Nunes, De Bruyne, Gundogan; Silva, Haaland, Salvinho.

Recent Form: Last Five Matches

Liverpool comes into this game in strong form with five wins in all competitions in the last five games. The Reds secured a 2-1 victory over a strong Brighton & Hove Albion side in a hard-fought game. They scored two quick goals, courtesy of Gakpo and Salah, in the second half to secure a comeback victory.

Liverpool defeated Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 next in the Champions League bout with a fantastic hattrick from Diaz. The Reds beat Aston Villa 2-0 in the Premier League right before the November international break.

Liverpool beat Southampton 3-2 in a hectic game, displaying complacency in phases during the controversial game with poor officiating. However, Salah’s two goals denied the bad influence of the referee against the Merseyside giants. Liverpool secured a 2-0 victory over Real in the midweek to build strong momentum despite the loss of key players due to injuries.

On the other hand, Man City registered four losses and a draw in all competitions in the last five matches. Guardiola’s men suffered a shock away defeat against Bournemouth, followed by an emphatic 4-1 loss against Sporting CP.

Brighton beat Man City 2-1 before the November international break for Guardiola to wait before he could respond. However, after the international break, Tottenham Hotspur beat the Citizens in their home turf with an emphatic 0-4 scoreline.

Guardiola’s team launched a full-throttled attack against Feyenoord in midweek, gaining a three-goal lead against the visitors. However, Feyenoord fought back with three goals to secure a fantastic 3-3 draw against the high-quality opponents.

Key Players to Watch

Salah remains the key player for the Reds this season despite missing the penalty against Real during the midweek. The Egypt legend needs to bounce back quickly from that unfortunate moment and continue his prolific run.

Meanwhile, Alexander-Arnold returns to the first team with an injury to Bradley during the midweek against the Spanish giants. Both Trent and Gomez or Quansah need to prove they can replace the in-form injured teammates, Bradley and Konate.

Man City will look at Haaland to find his goalscoring form against the Reds at Anfield while depending on Dias to reorganise the defence. Gündogan, De Bruyne, and Nunes showcase immense quality in midfield and hope fixture congestion negates their age disadvantage against younger opponents.

Tactical Insights and Match Expectations

This is a must-win game for Man City as any drop in points will allow Arsenal and Chelsea to overtake them in the Premier League table. With five losses and one draw, Guardiola is facing a problem that he has never faced throughout his managerial career.

The Spaniard recently signed a new contract with the Citizens to secure his future at the club. However, that news has not worked in his favour and has given his team a morale boost. The midfield battle will shape the game, as Slot’s drastically different style challenges Guardiola’s familiarity with Klopp’s approach.

Meanwhile, Liverpool cannot afford any phases of complacency that have bothered them in some games. Slot demands a strong balance between risk and reward and that factor will play a key role during this game.

The Dutch head coach is relying on experienced players to lead the charge, negating any fatigue the team might feel after playing so many big games in quick succession. Just like Man City, Liverpool needs to secure the victory and make the most of the Anfield factor.

Head-to-Head Record

Liverpool has the historical edge with 79 wins compared to Man City’s 44, while 49 encounters have ended in draws. However, the Citizens have won two games and achieved two draws with only one victory for the Reds in their last five meetings. This fixture remains one of the marquee matchups in the Premier League, particularly during the Guardiola-Klopp era.