Liverpool’s hopes of silverware hinge on their success over the next fortnight, and it starts with a trip to Man City for a place in the FA Cup semi-final.
Liverpool vs. Man City
FA Cup Quarter-Final | Etihad Stadium
April 4, 2026 | 12.45pm (BST)
The final international break of the season is behind us, with Liverpool’s season now hinging on their final seven Premier League games, the FA Cup and Champions League.
Man City pose quite the roadblock for a trip to Wembley, especially considering the Reds have won just 43 percent of their games on the road this season.
The match will go to extra time and penalties if the scores are level after 90 minutes.
Alexander Isak AND Jeremie Frimpong available
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 16, 2025: Liverpool's Alexander Isak during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and Atlético de Madrid. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Alexander Isak has not played for 105 days since being injured in December, but the striker returned to full training in the week and can take a place on the bench – don’t expect him to start!
Jeremie Frimpong, meanwhile, has put his injury scare during the international break behind him and is fit to feature, which is a boost for Slot.
The caveat is that the head coach hinted at considering the minutes he will play, as Liverpool have four games in 11 days.
Mo Salah is also ready to return to the side after missing the trip to Brighton before the break, in a timely boost in the search for goals.
Alisson remains sidelined and he has stated that the “plan is to be in full playing condition by the end of April.”
Last 5 games: Liverpool and Man City form
Team Last 5 Results (Most Recent Last) Record
Liverpool W (1-3 vs Wolves) |L (0-1 vs Gala) |D (1-1 vs Spurs) |W (4-0 vs Gala) |L (2-1 vs Brighton) 2W, 1D, 2L
Man City W (3-1 vs Newcastle) |L (3-0 vs Madrid) |D (1-1 vs West Ham) |L (1-2 vs Madrid) |W (2-0 vs Arsenal) 2W, 1D, 2L
Liverpool head into the match off the back of two wins and two defeats in their last five games in all competitions, with City boasting the same record, but theirs includes a League Cup final triumph.
It has not been a standard-setting season for either club, but City remain somewhat in the league title discussion with seven games remaining, while the Reds’ title defence ended months ago.
The Reds have kept one clean sheet in their last seven in all competitions, while Guardiola’s men have
Pep Guardiola banned: Pep Lijnders will take charge on the touchline
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Saturday, October 18, 2025: Manchester City's assistant manager Pepijn "Pep" Lijnders during the FA Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Everton FC at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool’s former assistant manager, Pep Lijnders, will take charge of Man City on the touchline as Guardiola serves the second and final game of his ban.
Guardiola was banned after being booked for the sixth time this season during his side’s win over Newcastle in the previous round of the competition.
He served the first match of his ban against West Ham in the Premier League.
If it was at Anfield, you could expect some reaction towards Lijnders, but that feels unlikely at the Etihad. Ex-Red Kolo Toure will sit alongside Klopp’s former right-hand man on the touchline.
2 players in doubt for Man City
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 6, 2023: Manchester City's John Stones during the FA Community Shield match between Manchester City FC and Arsenal FC at Wembley Stadium. Arsenal won 4-1 on penalties. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Josko Gvardiol is unavailable for Man City with a tibial fracture, while both John Stones and Ruben Dias are in doubt.
City may not look to risk the duo ahead of next week’s clash against Chelsea, especially with Marc Guehi available as he is not cup-tied despite having played in the competition for Crystal Palace.
James Trafford is expected to retain his place as the cup goalkeeper, and Erling Haaland will be fresh having sat out during the international break.
Possible Man City XI: Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, Ait-Nouri; Rodri, Silva; Semenyo, Cherki, Marmoush; Haaland
Predicted Liverpool XI
Giorgi Mamardashvili will remain in goal with Alisson still sidelined with an unspecified injury, which will likely prompt an unchanged backline from the one that lost against Brighton.
Ryan Gravenberch is a mainstay in midfield and will be expected to be flanked by Alexis Mac Allister, though his late return from international duty could afford Curtis Jones an opportunity.
Salah returns straight to the right wing, in what is likely his last game against City, with Dominik Szoboszlai, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike to make up the rest of the side.
This would leave no room for Cody Gakpo, who would then be an option off the bench alongside the likes of Isak and Federico Chiesa.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Ekitike
VAR will be in operation across FA Cup quarter-finals
Referee Peter Bankes looks at the VAR screen as he review Wrexham's George Dobson's challenge on Chelsea's Alejandro Garnacho during the Emirates FA Cup fifth round match at SToK Racecourse, Wrexham. Picture date: Saturday March 7, 2026.
VAR will be in operation for this round of the FA Cup, and for the first time, referee announcements following reviews will also be displayed in writing on stadium big screens.
The aim is to add further clarity and accessibility for supporters regarding the outcome of any VAR reviews – let’s just hope we’re not waiting an age for it!
Paul Howard will be on VAR duties for this fixture and will be assisted by Sian Massey-Ellis.
Arne Slot: “It’s up to us to show that we are ready”
Speaking ahead of the cup tie, Slot feels more players are now used to the intensity of Liverpool’s schedule, meaning there should be no further excuses:
“I think much more of our players are used to the programme now than they were in the beginning of the season. So now it’s up to us to show that we are ready for this tough fixture list.
“Tough in a sense of the opponents we face, but that’s completely normal if you are still in the FA Cup and if you’re still in the Champions League that you face tough opponents – and tough in a sense that it’s a lot of games with hardly any rest in between.
“But we are now eight or nine months further than we were in the start of the season, and I think more and more players are ready for this schedule than they were for large parts of the first half of the season.”
Pre-Man City in FA Cup
Man City’s formidable FA Cup record
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Wednesday, March 4, 2026: Manchester City's Erling Haaland reacts after being denied a penalty during the FA Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Nottingham Forest FC at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool’s task is tough enough as it is, but City have a stranglehold on this competition when they play at the Etihad.
Incredibly, they have won each of their last 17 home matches in the FA Cup, dating back to February 2018.
Victory would make it the longest home winning run by any side in the competition proper, surpassing Clapham Rovers’ 17 wins from December 1873 to February 1881.
If you’re looking for a good omen for Liverpool, they have progressed from 17 of their last 19 FA Cup quarter-final ties. We’ll hang onto that tidbit!
Who is the referee for Man City vs. Liverpool?
LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 17, 2024: Referee Michael Oliver during the FA Premier League match between Brentford FC and Liverpool FC at the Brentford Community Stadium. Liverpool won 4-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Michael Oliver is in charge of this fixture; it will be the eighth time he has overseen a clash between Liverpool and City – the Reds have won two, and City three.
He was in charge when Liverpool won the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley in 2022, what we wouldn’t do for a repeat of that performance and result!
Interestingly, he has never issued a red card to a Liverpool (in 67 games) or City player (64 games).
Stuart Burt and Timothy Wood will serve as his assistants, with Paul Tierney acting as the fourth official.
How to follow and watch Man City vs. Liverpool
Man City vs. Liverpool will be shown live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK, with coverage underway from 11.30am (BST).
A full worldwide guide will be available on This Is Anfield in the hours preceding kickoff.
If you’re on the move for Easter or would prefer text updates, then our liveblog is the place to be. Harry McMullen will keep you informed and entertained from 12pm.
Up the Reds!