The best possible Liverpool starting lineup vs. Manchester City

Liverpool will face Manchester City on Sunday afternoon at the Etihad Stadium in what promises to be a thrilling battle between the second and third best teams in the Premier League as both look to make ground on leaders Arsenal.

The Reds picked up a massive mid-week win over Real Madrid in the Champions League for a second straight season, and now there is confidence that Arne Slot is finally figuring out his winning formula.

On Sunday with Alisson Becker still out injured, Giorgi Mamardashvili has to get the start in goal. In front of him, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate will continue to be the main center back pairing, and Konate did have a grand bounce back game against Kylian Mbappe and Madrid.

Flanking the two center backs should be Andrew Robertson and Conor Bradley. Jeremie Frimpong is still out injured, while Milos Kerkez is in no way ready to be the starting left back for the Pool.

The midfield is a bit tricker to figure out, but Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, and Dominik Szoboszlai has to be the combination of the best players in the middle of the park, shifting Florian Wirtz into a workhorse inverted playmaker role on the left wing.

Alongside Wirtz in that front three will be two easy starts in Mohamed Salah on the right flank after his big day against Madrid, as well as Hugo Ekitike up top at striker with Alexander Isak still potentially weeks away from actual match fitness.