Liverpool will host Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday, looking to continue their impressive run of form and pull further clear at the top of the table.
Liverpool are currently eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table, and they are coming into this game vs Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday on the back of six consecutive wins in all competitions.
Meanwhile, Manchester City have lost five of their last six matches in all competitions, and they are completely devoid of form and confidence right now. The Premier League champions need to bounce back strongly if they want to keep their title hopes alive. A defeat here could be a crushing blow for them. This is a must-win game for the defending champions, and it remains to be seen whether they can step up and deliver.
Matches between these two sides are quite evenly matched, and this is likely to be another cracking contest between the two title rivals. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Liverpool
Liverpool will be without Alisson Becker due to a hamstring injury vs Manchester City. Federico Chiesa will miss out with a knock, and Diogo Jota has an abdominal injury. Conor Bradley picked up a hamstring injury against Real Madrid, and Ibrahima Konate damaged his knee. Both are long-term absentees now.
Liverpool are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Manchester City, with Caoimhin Kelleher in goal. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson should start as the full-backs, and they will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Joe Gomez will start alongside Virgil van Dijk in the central defensive partnership.
As for the midfield unit, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch will add composure and control to the side in the double pivot. Dominik Szoboszlai will look to create goalscoring opportunities in the final third. Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz will add pace, flair and goals from the wide areas. Finally, Darwin Nunez will lead the line for Liverpool on Sunday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Nunez
Manchester City
Manchester City will be without Rodri due to his knee injury vs Liverpool. Jeremy Doku has a thigh injury, John Stones has an ankle injury and Oscar Bobb is out with a leg injury. The away side will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Ederson Moraes in goal.
Kyle Walker and Josko Gvardiol will be deployed as the full-backs, and they will look to help out defensively and hit Liverpool on the break. Manuel Akanji will start at the heart of the defence alongside Ruben Dias.
As for the midfield unit, Ilkay Gundogan will start alongside Rico Lewis in the double pivot. They will look to add defensive cover and composure to the side. Kevin De Bruyne will be deployed in the number ten role, and he will look to create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates. Savinho and Bernardo Silva will start on the flanks. Erling Haaland will lead the line for Manchester City.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Gundogan, Lewis; Savinho, De Bruyne, Silva; Haaland
Key Stats
Liverpool are undefeated in 25 of their last 26 home games against Manchester City.
Liverpool have picked up seven wins from the last eight Premier League matches.
Manchester City have lost five of their last six matches in all competitions.
19 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between these two teams.
Manchester City have conceded 17 goals in the last six matches in all competitions.
Player to Watch
Mohamed Salah
Embed from Getty Images
The Egyptian international is our key player to watch out for. The experienced attacker has been in phenomenal form for Liverpool this season, and he will look to punish the Manchester City defence here.
The home team will depend on him for goals and creativity. Salah has contributed towards four goals and three assists in his last five outings. He will look to continue his impressive run of form and make a defining impact here.
Prediction
Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City
Both teams will be desperate for a win here for very different reasons. Although Manchester City have struggled in recent weeks, they are one of the best teams in the world and Liverpool cannot afford to underestimate them.
This is likely to be a close contest and it will be difficult to separate the two teams. Neither team will want to end up on the losing side and a fierce contest is expected. Both sides are likely to get on the scoresheet here but they will share the spoils in a draw.