Liverpool vs Manchester City (Premier League): Match Preview, Team News, Head to Head, How to Watch

Manchester City travel to Anfield to face Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool on Sunday afternoon in a match with huge, potentially title-deciding, ramifications.

Liverpool against Manchester City. Jürgen Klopp against Pep Guardiola. It’s a tale we’ve heard many times in recent years. These two goliaths of Premier League football go head-to-head in yet another title race. This time, however, it’s not just two horses in the race.

The impact of this match could be massive. If Liverpool come out on top, they extend their small margin on Pep Guardiola’s side to four points. If City do what they’ve struggled to do in recent years which is win at Anfield, the Citizens would move to top spot in the table.

Both teams, as expected in a title race, come into the affair in good form. City will approach this match with a positive mindset having recently secured qualification to the quarter-finals of the Champions League after defeating FC Copenhagen 6-2 on aggregate.

Previously in the Premier League, Pep Guardiola’s side overcame a struggling Manchester United team. Marcus Rashford gave their city rivals the lead early on before Phil Foden continued his immaculate form this season by scoring twice. Erling Haaland rounded off the scoreline by securing City’s third minutes before the final whistle.

For Sunday’s hosts, they’re on a run of six straight victories since their 3-1 defeat to Arsenal. One of those wins came at Wembley Stadium when Virgil van Dijk rose from a corner to guide a header to the far post to give Liverpool their second Carabao Cup during Klopp’s tenure.

They followed that up with a 3-0 FA Cup win against Championship side Southampton at Anfield. Russell Martin’s side rued missed chances as Caoimhín Kelleher, who has stepped up impressively during Alisson’s spell out with injury, made numerous saves to keep a clean sheet.

Most recently, however, the Premier League leaders struggled against Nottingham Forrest and left it late to find a winner, through Darwin Núñez, in the dying embers of the game, with the Reds benefitting from referee Paul Tierney’s mistake.

This leaves the Premier League in fine balance as just a single point separates the two sides heading into Sunday’s clash, with Arsenal sitting a further point behind 2^nd place Manchester City.

Whoever comes out on top on Sunday will be given a big confidence boost for their hopes of lifting another Premier League title.

Fixture Details

Manchester City go head-to-head with Liverpool on Sunday 10^th March at Anfield, with kick-off scheduled for 15:45 GMT.

Team News

City boss Pep Guardiola provided an injury update ahead of his side’s of Sunday’s clash with Liverpool. Jack Grealish, who scored in City’s 4-1 over Klopp’s side at the Etihad Stadium last season, remains on the sideline after picking up an injury against Copenhagen in the first leg.

Jeremy Doku and Matheus Nunes are 50/50 with the duo set to be examined during a fitness test to determine whether they are available. Nunes suffered a nasty injury to his finger during the second leg of the round of 16 win over Copenhagen.

For Liverpool, however, their injury list is slightly prolonged compared to Manchester City’s.

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker is 100% ruled out with a muscle injury which means Kelleher will continue his stint in the side and will start on Sunday. Alongside the Brazilian stopper, defenders Joël Matip and Trent Alexander-Arnold will also take no part due to a ruptured ACL and an LCL issue respectively.

Ibrahima Konate was brought off early in Liverpool’s Europa League fixture against Sparta Prague as a precaution. Klopp confirmed in his press conference that they’re awaiting the Frenchman’s scan results and he is therefore a doubt.

23-year-old Curtis Jones is the closest to returning for Klopp’s side however he still won’t be available for selection. The midfielder is expected to return before the international break.

Spaniards Thiago Alcântara and Stefan Bajčetić, like most games this season, won’t be taking part. The former made a cameo appearance against Arsenal, having missed most of the season, and suffered another injury. Both will not feature in Klopp’s squad.

Further to the aforementioned midfielders, Ryan Gravenberch, who suffered an ankle ligament injury at the hands of Moises Caicedo in the Carabao Cup final, will also not take part. He is, however, expected to return after the international break.

Finally, Diogo Jota is also ruled out with a medial ligament injury.

Head to Head

These two Premier League heavyweights have gone head-to-head many times over the years. Since their current managers were appointed, these games have often been seen as title-deciders.

Over the years, though, this fixture has been contested a massive 225 times, with Liverpool coming out on top more often than not. The Reds have claimed victory 108 times compared to City’s 60 times.

In the reverse fixture at the Etihad Stadium, Erling Haaland gave City the lead. The Norwegian peeled off the back of Joel Matip and slotted it low to Alisson’s left hand side. With ten minutes to go, Trent Alexander-Arnold levelled the scoreline with both sides taking home a point.

Last season, in this fixture, Guardiola’s side tasted defeat. Star forward Mohamed Salah netted in the 76^th minute to give the Merseysiders a clean sheet and three points.

Statistics

• Liverpool have only lost once in their last 20 matches against Manchester City at Anfield. With 13 wins and six draws, the defeat came in February 2021 when City ran out 1-4 winners.
• In the last 30 matches between the two sides, there have only been two occasions where the away side have come out victorious. Out of the 54 fixtures to have been played 40+ times, this fixture has the lowest percentage in terms of away wins in the Premier League.
• Liverpool and Manchester City are the top two sides for most points regained from losing positions this campaign.
• Manchester City have won their last nine away matches in all competitions, scoring 25 goals in the process.
• Luis Diaz has scored in three successive home league matches for Liverpool and is unbeaten in all his 29 home matches.
• Phil Foden has been involved in 18 league goals this season, making this his best return for Manchester City in a single campaign.
• Rodri is undefeated in his last 60 appearances for Manchester City. His previous loss came in February 2023 in a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

How to Watch

For fans in the United Kingdom wanting to watch this blockbuster match, it will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Premier League. Kick-off is scheduled for 15:45 GMT. BBC Radio 5 Live will be providing radio commentary.

For fans in the United States, the match will be live on USA Network and the NBC Sports App.

For fans living in any other country, you can find the complete TV listings here!

Like every other game this season, we will be doing a live WatchAlong show on the City Xtra YouTube channel.