Image Credits: Imago Images
Liverpool welcome Manchester City to Anfield on Sunday evening as two Premier League heavyweights go head to head. Arne Slot’s side are chasing a top-four finish after a disappointing title defence, but confidence has been boosted by emphatic wins over Qarabag and Newcastle United last week.
The Reds scored 10 goals across those matches, thrashing Qarabag 6-0 in the Champions League before coming from behind to beat Newcastle 4-1 in the league. Victory over Qarabag secured automatic qualification for the Champions League knockout stages, though late wins for Manchester United and Chelsea saw Liverpool drop back to sixth in the Premier League table.
City, meanwhile, have also lost ground in the title race. Pep Guardiola’s men sit six points behind leaders Arsenal after being held to a 2-2 draw by Tottenham, despite leading 2-0.
They did, however, reach the Carabao Cup final in midweek with a comfortable semi-final second-leg win over Newcastle, allowing Guardiola to rest several key players.
Liverpool continue to battle injury problems, particularly in defence. Ibrahima Konate returned from compassionate leave against Newcastle and marked his comeback with a goal, while summer signing Giovanni Leoni remains sidelined for the season with an ACL injury.
Slot is also without both natural right-backs, Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong, who are ruled out long term. Liverpool FC Women are also dealing with injury concerns, with midfielder Sofie Lundgaard set to face a significant spell on the sidelines, head coach Gareth Taylor has diclosed.
The 23-year-old sustained the injury on the eve of last week’s trip to Manchester United and is set to undergo surgery. Taylor told a press conference on Friday: “Unfortunately for Soph, just on the matchday-minus-one before United she went into a challenge and has come out of it on the wrong side.
“She’s going to have surgery next week. I think it’s a low kind of shin injury, around the ankle area. It’s a real shame because she worked so hard to come back from the previous injury.
“She’s been really well supported. She’ll get the surgery done next week, which is going to be great that we can get that done and get her back on the road to recovery.”
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