Liverpool welcome Manchester City to Anfield on what could be a pivotal day in the Premier League title race.
For years, these two heavyweights slugged it out at the summit of English football. Last season’s success of Merseyside is now a distant memory however with City fighting to stay in a race they cannot keep pace in.
Arsenal’s victory over Sunderland on Saturday opened up a nine point lead at the top. Pep Guardiola’s side can reduce it again today but will need to win at a ground where they have tasted victory just one in the last 22 Premier League games.
City have been unconvincing since the turn of the year with last week’s hapless draw at Tottenham the latest suggestion they are not cut out for a late title surge.
But the 10-time champions still have the chance to keep the race alive today.
Metro’s LIVE matchday blog will bring you all the build-up, confirmed team news and starting XIs, goal updates and minute-by-minute coverage.
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February 8, 2026 4:01 pm
The behemoths meet again
Phil Haigh
Manchester City v Liverpool - The FA Community Shield
Virgil van Dijk and Erling Haaland will do battle again (Picture: Getty Images)
Two Premier League greats will go up against each other again as Virgil van Dijk prepares to try and keep Erling Haaland in check.
The Norwegian has not been in great form by his standards, scoring just once in his last eight games.
February 8, 2026 3:58 pm
All over at the Amex
Phil Haigh
Boos from the home fans as it finishes Brighton 0-1 Crystal Palace.
February 8, 2026 3:52 pm
Arne Slot’s programme notes
Phil Haigh
The Liverpool manager wrote in today’s programme: ‘Speaking from experience, I can safely say that this is a game that has attracted the attention of football fans all over the world for many years.
‘When I was in Holland it was always a fixture that people would look out for due to the quality of football and the rivalry that existed between the two teams as they fought it out at the top of the Premier League.
‘This makes it a privilege to be involved and having come up against City three times since moving to Liverpool I am even better placed to appreciate the standard and also the demands. Put simply, no-one should be in any doubt about the levels you have to reach to win a game like this, especially when Pep Guardiola is in charge of the opposition.
‘There are no shortcuts and no half measures at this level. You have to be all in from first minute to last and you also have to be prepared to suffer because under Pep, City have only ever been a team which will test you to the full. On and off the pitch we have to be ready for this.’
February 8, 2026 3:48 pm
Phil Haigh
February 8, 2026 3:44 pm
Ekitike in fine form
Phil Haigh
Liverpool v Manchester City - Premier League
Hugo Ekitike arrives at Anfield (Picture: Getty Images)
Hugo Ekitike is coming off two goals in the 4-1 win over Newcastle last time out for Liverpool.
The Frenchman has scored 15 goals in 32 Liverpool appearances since his summer arrival.
February 8, 2026 3:37 pm
Shearer expects goals this afternoon
Phil Haigh
Alan Shearer fancies plenty of goals at Anfield, saying: ‘It could be a cracking game because both teams have been really poor defensively. They both have great players in forward positions, so I think I’ll go for a score draw.’
February 8, 2026 3:34 pm
Guardiola on Lijnders influence
Phil Haigh
Pep Lijnders worked as Jurgen Klopp’s assistant at Liverpool and now has the same role with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
AS Monaco v Manchester City - UEFA Champions League
Pep Guardiola added Pep Lijnders to his team last year (Picture: Getty Images)
On the Dutchman’s arrival in June last year, Guardiola said: ‘I had a lot of info from other people about him who had been trained or managed by him at Liverpool.
‘I needed to refresh myself first with new people who have incredible knowledge about the game and the Premier League and I love a lot many things that he did with Jurgen at Liverpool.
‘We talked one day, I think we felt connected immediately. I am incredibly lucky that since the first day I started as a manager all my backroom staff and close people – and Pep is one of them.
‘Methodology of training sessions and vision of part of the game and the freedom to say what we should do, continually talking about what could be better in that way with the player and other ones and one system or the other.
‘That is the funny part of our game, imagining what we can do, what is going to happen, and confronting with opinions for people that you truly believe are incredibly well prepared for their business.’
February 8, 2026 3:27 pm
Who is missing for both sides?
Phil Haigh
Liverpool made a string of big signings in the summer but their squad looks a little stretched right now, with Arne Slot’s bench not the strongest.
Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley remain out, which sees Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back again.
Alexander Isak, Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni are all out.
Manchester City have excellent strength in depth and they have needed it of late, with five players out injured.
Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic, Jeremy Doku, John Stones and Savinho but Bernardo Silva is starting despite being a doubt.
February 8, 2026 3:23 pm
Goal at the Amex
Phil Haigh
Crystal Palace take the lead against Brighton through Ismaila Sarr.
Brighton 0-1 Crystal Palace.
February 8, 2026 3:20 pm
Liverpool vs Man City team news is in
Phil Haigh
Liverpool: Alisson, Szoboszlai, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Wirtz, Salah, Ekitike Gakpo
Subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Endo, Chiesa, Jones, Robertson, Nyoni, Ramsay, Ngumoha
Man City: Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, Ait-Nouri, Rodri, Silva, O’Reilly, Semenyo, Marmoush, Haaland
Subs: Trafford, Dias, Reijnders, Ake, Cherki, Nico, Foden, Alleyne, Lewis
February 8, 2026 3:16 pm
Recent matches between the two
Phil Haigh
Neither side has dominated this fixture in recent years, as you may have expected.
Manchester City won the last meeting, hammering the Reds 3-0 in November at the Etihad.
The last eight meetings have produced three Manchester City wins, three Liverpool victories and two draws.
Very, very even.
February 8, 2026 3:10 pm
What is on the line at Anfield?
Phil Haigh
Liverpool’s Premier League title defence has not gone well at all and they are in a fight to finish in the top four.
Even with a win today they will remain sixth, but victory would put them one point behind Chelsea in fifth.
Manchester City are putting up a better title challenge this season, but really cannot afford to drop points as they look to keep pace with Arsenal.
Pep Guardiola’s men are second, nine points behind the table-topping Gunners.
February 8, 2026 3:06 pm
What’s happening elsewhere?
Phil Haigh
Talking of that Brighton vs Crystal Palace clash, it’s not been a thriller so far. Goalless at the break.
February 8, 2026 3:03 pm
Liverpool vs Man City TV channel and streaming options
Phil Haigh
Sky Sports will be showing the game live on their Main Event and Premier League channels, following the Brighton vs Crystal Palace clash.
Streaming is available for subscribers on Sky Go, while you can stream through Now TV if you’re not a Sky customer.
February 8, 2026 3:02 pm
Liverpool vs Man City kick-off time
Phil Haigh
The game gets underway at Anfield at 4.30pm.
February 8, 2026 3:01 pm
Phil Haigh
The big game today in the Premier League sees Liverpool host Manchester City this afternoon and we will be covering all the action right here.
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