Liverpool host Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday, October 11, in the Premier League.
The clash features two new head coaches. Andoni Iraola replaced Arne Slot at Liverpool, while Enzo Maresca succeeded Pep Guardiola at City.
City lead the table with 15 points from five wins in five games. Liverpool are sixth on nine points, unbeaten after two wins and three draws.
Two forwards will draw attention. Erling Haaland has five goals for City, and Alexander Isak has four for Liverpool.
The sides last met on April 4, when City won 4-0 at home in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Their last league game at Anfield, in February, ended in a 2-1 City win after Haaland scored a penalty in the third minute of stoppage time.
The wait for the rematch has been long. The three-week international break this season has already left both clubs with fitness concerns.
The latest concerns City’s Nico O’Reilly.
According to Sky Sports, the defender will miss England’s Nations League match against the Czech Republic on Tuesday.
He and Ezri Konsa missed England’s Monday training session and completed individual programmes. Konsa is set to be in the squad.
O’Reilly, 21, played the full 90 minutes of England’s 3-2 defeat by Spain on Saturday. His mistake led to Alex Baena’s equaliser at 2-2. He had earlier provided the assist for Harry Kane’s first-half goal.
The nature of the problem has not been disclosed. It remains unclear how serious it is.
Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha replaces him. The 18-year-old missed the matchday squad for the Spain game. He has one senior cap. That came in a friendly win over New Zealand.
City have other concerns before Anfield. Phil Foden received a three-match suspension after his red card in the Manchester derby, and the ban covers the Liverpool game.
Antoine Semenyo withdrew from Ghana’s squad with a swollen leg. There is no clarity on how long he will be out.
Liverpool have their own concerns. Isak left the Sweden squad with what the club called a “minor injury.”
Cody Gakpo came off in the 17th minute of the Netherlands’ win over Serbia with an apparent ankle injury.
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