Manchester City vs Liverpool preview: Blues look to build on Carabao Cup win against Arne Slot's sideGuardiola aims to reach record eighth successive FA Cup semi-final
Manchester City vs Liverpool
Competition: F.A. Cup Quarter-Final
Date: 12.45pm, Saturday 4th April 2026
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Referee: Michael Oliver Assistants: S Burt, T Wood Fourth Official: P Tierney VAR: P Howard
Odds: City 3/4, Draw 3/1, Liverpool 3/1
Tickets: Sold out
TV: TNT Sports
Manchester City
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Squad (from): Donnarumma, Trafford, Bettinelli, Dias, Ake, Guehi, Ait-Nouri, Khusanov, Alleyne, Lewis, Reijnders, Kovacic, Cherki, Gonzalez, Rodri, Silva, Nunes, O'Reilly, Foden, Marmoush, Haaland, Doku, Savinho, Semenyo
Injured: Stones, Gvardiol
Doubtful: Dias
Suspended: None
Form guide: WLDLW
Liverpool
Manager: Arne Slot
Squad (from): Mamardashvili, Woodman, Pecsi, Gomez, van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez, Robertson, Frimpong, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones, Gravenberch, Salah, Chiesa, Gakpo, Ekitike, Ngumoha
Injured: Alisson, Bradley, Leoni, Endo, Isak
Doubtful: Frimpong
Suspended: None
Form guide: LWDLW
City are without defenders John Stones and Josko Gvardiol for the visit of Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final. Ruben Dias is a doubt after missing the Carabao Cup final win against Arsenal.
That victory was Pep Guardiola's 19th trophy as City manager, and he is now focused on adding more silverware this season.
“It was a long time ago already,” he said at Friday's press conference.
“It’s better and nice to win another title. It’s not the most prestigious one but the fact is it’s another chance to play against the best team in Europe so far in the Premier League and the Champions League. It was a good test against a good team.
“We finished one and think of the next one. Tomorrow we have chance to make another incredible milestone - eight semi-finals in a row.
“It’s never happened. This is a prestigious competition. Another game against a special opponent for us. Hopefully [the fans] can help us celebrate the title won and reach another semi-final.
“Since we won the first Premier League we have now won six Premier Leagues now and won five [League Cups], seven semi-finals in the FA Cup and four finals.
“That defines the club, the consistency.
“In cups, all the time you can have a bad afternoon. You are not always playing League One, League Two or Premier League teams, you can have a bad afternoon but it didn’t happen. Always we were there.
“That’s what makes me proud the most. You can win a title and make a good season. Seven semi-finals in a row and to fight for an eighth in the FA Cup is really, really good.”
City won their last home game against Liverpool 3-0, with Erling Haaland, Nico Gonzalez and Jeremy Doku netting for the Blues. Overall City have won 54 of the 201 games played against Liverpool, with 52 draws and 95 defeats.
Predicted line-up: Trafford, Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O'Reilly, Rodri, Silva, Cherki, Semenyo, Doku, Haaland
Score prediction: City 2 Liverpool 1
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