Manchester City will host Liverpool at the Etihad on Sunday, with both teams eager to continue their winning run and keep pace with Arsenal.
Manchester City are coming into the game vs Liverpool on the back of five wins from their last six matches in all competitions. Meanwhile, Liverpool were going through a poor run of form with six defeats in eight matches across all competitions.
However, the Eeds have now picked up two consecutive victories against Aston Villa and Real Madrid. That will have given them a confidence boost. It will be interesting to see if they can pick up a win here and close the gap with the leaders.
The Premier League were already seven points adrift of Arsenal heading into Gameweek 11, and they cannot afford to keep dropping points if they want to win the Premier League title this season.
Matches between these two teams are often packed with goals, and this one could be another exciting contest. Both teams are capable of picking up a victory here and there should be a close contest.
The last time these two sides met, Liverpool picked up a 2-0 win away from home against Manchester City. They will be hoping for a similar result here. It will be interesting to see if the home team can continue their impressive form and grind out all three points. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Manchester City
Rodri and Mateo Kovacic remain sidelined for the home side due to an ankle injury. Manchester City will shape up in their usual 4-1-4-1 formation vs Liverpool, with Gianluigi Donnarumma taking his customary place in goal.
Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly will start as the full-backs. They will help out at both ends of the pitch. Meanwhile, Ruben Dias will pair up alongside Josko Gvardiol at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Nico Gonzalez will start in the middle of the park, and he will look to dictate the tempo of the game from the deep. Tijjani Reijnders and Phil Foden will start as the advanced midfielders. They will add creativity to the side.
Savinho and Jeremy Doku will add pace, flair and goals from the flanks, with Erling Haaland leading the line for Manchester City vs Liverpool at the Etihad on Sunday evening.
Probable Lineup (4-1-4-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Gonzalez; Doku, Reijnders, Foden, Savinho; Haaland
Liverpool
Arne Slot will be without Alisson Becker (hamstring), Giovanni Leoni (knee), Jeremie Frimpong (thigh), and Alexander Isak (groin) this weekend. Liverpool are likely to shape up in a 4-3-3 formation vs Manchester City, with Giorgi Mamardashvili in goal.
Conor Bradley and Andrew Robertson will start as the full-backs. They will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Meanwhile, Ibrahima Konate will form the central defensive partnership alongside Virgil van Dijk.
As for the midfield unit, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, and Dominik Szoboszlai will start in the middle of the park. They will look to control the game from the deep and add defensive cover.
Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo will start on the flanks here. They will look to add goals and creativity from the wide areas. Finally, Hugo Ekitike will spearhead the Liverpool attack vs Manchester City this weekend.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Mamardashvilli, Bradley, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Ekitike, Gakpo
Key Stats
18 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two teams. Both teams have picked up two wins each in the last six meetings between them.
Manchester City are unbeaten in five of their last six matches in all competitions.
Liverpool have lost three of their last six matches in all competitions.
Since the start of April, Manchester City have secured the most points in the Premier League (42), winning 13 of 19 games (D3 L3), while they have won nine of their 10 at the Etihad in that time (L1).
Manchester City are the only team yet to score a Premier League goal via a set piece this season, with all 20 of their goals coming from open play. They are the first side in Premier League history to score as many as 20 goals in their first ten games of a season without any of them being from a set piece.
Player to Watch
Erling Haaland
Embed from Getty Images
The Norwegian striker is our key player to watch out for. Haaland has been in spectacular goalscoring form, and he will look to make his mark in the game. Manchester City will need him to step up and produce a strong performance if they want to grind out all three points.
Liverpool have been quite vulnerable defensively this season. The Reds have looked mediocre at the back, and Haaland has the qualities to exploit their defensive vulnerabilities. The 25-year-old could be the point of difference between the two teams here.
Haaland has netted 98 goals in 107 Premier League appearances. If he scores a brace in this game he will become the fastest player to 100 goals in Premier League history, with Alan Shearer the current quickest to 100 in 124 games. It remains to be seen whether he can extend his goalscoring run and make a defining impact here.
Prediction
Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool
Manchester City are in better form right now, and they will be looking to pick up all three points. They will certainly be the favourites at home. The hosts have the confidence and momentum with them. On the other hand, Liverpool have shown signs of improvement in the last two outings as well. It will be interesting to see if they cause any problems for the home team here.
This is likely to be a close contest, and both teams are likely to get on the scoresheet. However, Liverpool’s defensive issues could let them down once again. Erling Haaland has the quality to exploit their defensive vulnerabilities and punish them here. A narrow victory for the home team is on the cards. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Pep Guardiola and his charges.