City is hoping to win the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup, and they will be eager to continue their strong form from before the international break. They have won their last six games across all competitions, including a 7-0 victory over RB Leipzig and a 6-0 win against Burnley, with Erling Braut Haaland scoring eight goals in these two games alone. City sits second in the table, and their next two Premier League fixtures against Liverpool and Southampton are crucial as they seek to close the eight-point gap to Arsenal.
Although City has struggled to defeat Liverpool in recent seasons, their Premier League home form against the Reds is impressive. City has only lost one of their last 13 top-flight meetings against Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium, and they will be hoping to secure another victory on Saturday. If they succeed, it will be the first time they win four successive Premier League games this season, putting pressure on Arsenal when they play later that day.
Liverpool, who attempted to win an unprecedented quadruple almost a year ago, has had a tough season. They are currently sixth in the table, five points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, and have already suffered eight Premier League losses this season. Before the international break, they had back-to-back defeats against Bournemouth and Real Madrid, eliminating them from the Champions League last 16. However, Liverpool has a history of defeating reigning Premier League champions and has done so more times than any other team in the division's history.
The match on Saturday is crucial for Liverpool, as they not only hope to lay down a marker for their top-four rivals, but also to complete their second league double over City in the last 17 seasons. Klopp's side will be looking to repeat their 1-0 victory over City in October, which was secured by a second-half strike from Mohamed Salah.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Erling Haaland is a major doubt for this tie. According to the player's father, Man City striker and Premier League top scorer Haaland may or may not play against Liverpool due to a groin injury that forced him to withdraw from the Norway squad during the international break.Foden, on the other hand, will miss the game after having his appendix removed last weekend and is expected to be out for at least four weeks.
Guardiola is expected to make changes to his starting lineup after rotating his squad in the FA Cup win over Burnley, with Ederson, Stones, and Ake among those likely to be recalled. If Haaland is not fit to play, Julian Alvarez could start up front.
Liverpool's Luis Diaz could make the matchday squad after returning to first-team training this week following a knee injury, while Darwin Nunez should also be available after receiving treatment for an ankle cut during the international break. However, left-back Kostas Tsimikas is doubtful due to a rib injury sustained while on international duty.
The Reds will be without Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic, and Calvin Ramsay due to injury. Mohamed Salah is expected to lead the attack with Cody Gakpo and Nunez pending a fitness check, while Diogo Jota is likely to be replaced by Jordan Henderson in a midfield trio with Fabinho and either Harvey Elliott or James Milner, a former Man City player.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Manchester City possible starting lineup:Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Ake; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan; Bernardo, Haaland, Grealish
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Elliott; Salah, Gakpo, Nunez
EXPERT PREDICTION
Manchester City 3-1 Liverpool
Liverpool must rise to the occasion once again, as they did against Manchester United in March and Manchester City earlier this season, and overcome their poor away form if they are to achieve a favorable result and strengthen their top-four aspirations on Saturday.
Although Haaland's fitness is uncertain, we anticipate that City will maintain their impressive form and secure a narrow triumph on their home turf, narrowing the gap at the top temporarily before Arsenal's clash with Leeds a few hours later.
