Here’s a preview and prediction for Sunday’s Premier League showdown at Anfield as Liverpool takes on Manchester City. Will the Reds deepen City’s woes?
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Liverpool vs Man City: Match Preview
Manchester City’s collapse set several undesirable milestones. They became the first team in Champions League history to lead by three goals as late as the 75th minute yet fail to secure a victory. Additionally, it marked the first instance since May 1989, in a second-tier clash against Bournemouth (3-3), where City didn’t win a match after holding a three-goal advantage. For Pep Guardiola, it was an unprecedented moment in his managerial career, as he had never before failed to win a game after leading by three or more goals.
Furthermore, City’s form in the Premier League has taken a severe hit, with three consecutive losses—the same number of defeats they experienced in their previous 47 league matches combined (W35 D9). The last time City endured four straight league defeats was between April and August 2008, and the last instance within a single season occurred from January to March 2007, when they suffered five successive losses.
A visit to Anfield to take on Arne Slot’s high-flying Liverpool—who currently sit eight points clear at the top of the Premier League ahead of the weekend—is far from the ideal fixture for Guardiola as he aims to steer City back on track.
Liverpool, now widely regarded as the Premier League title frontrunners, enter this clash riding high after a commanding 2-0 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League. Goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo helped the Reds dismantle the European champions, further solidifying their dominant form.
The rivalry between Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp has defined English football for much of the last eight years, but under Arne Slot, Liverpool has quickly taken on a new identity. Slot, leading Liverpool for the first time against both Manchester City and Guardiola, will look to maintain the impressive record of Liverpool’s last six managers, none of whom have lost their first league encounter with England’s reigning champions (W4 D2) since Roy Evans’ 1-0 defeat to Manchester United in the 1993-94 season.
Historically, Guardiola has struggled more against Liverpool than most opponents. He has suffered eight defeats against the Reds—second only to the nine losses he has endured against Tottenham. With a win rate of just 27% (six victories in 22 meetings), Liverpool remains the side that has most consistently troubled the City manager across all competitions.
This season, Liverpool’s only Premier League loss came in a surprising 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest at Anfield. Since then, they have bounced back emphatically, winning seven of their last eight league matches (D1) and scoring at least twice in seven of those games.
Mohamed Salah, who netted twice in Liverpool’s 3-2 comeback triumph over Southampton last week, stirred headlines with his post-match revelation that he has yet to receive a new contract offer from the club, despite his current deal expiring at the end of the season.
If this season marks Mohamed Salah’s final chapter at Liverpool, he is making every effort to leave on a high. Leading the Premier League in combined goals and assists (16), Salah’s contributions have been invaluable, directly earning Liverpool a league-best 17 points so far.
Despite missing a penalty against Real Madrid on Wednesday, Salah has been a consistent thorn in Manchester City’s side, scoring seven Premier League goals against them during his time at Liverpool. Additionally, he is just two goals away from reaching the milestone of 100 league goals at Anfield, a testament to his incredible impact at the Reds’ iconic home ground.
Liverpool vs Man City Head-to-Head
Manchester City have managed just one victory in their last 21 Premier League visits to Anfield (D7 L13), a 4-1 triumph in February 2021. Notably, they haven’t secured a win at Anfield with fans in attendance since a 2-1 victory in May 2003.
On the flip side, Liverpool have only won one of their last nine Premier League encounters with City (D5 L3), a narrow 1-0 victory at home in October 2022.
Historically, this fixture has heavily favored the home side. Only six of the 54 Premier League meetings between Liverpool and City have been won by the away team, the lowest percentage of away victories (11%) for any matchup played more than 30 times in the competition.
Liverpool vs Man City: Team News
Liverpool – Team News
Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté is set to miss several weeks of action, while Conor Bradley will undergo further assessment ahead of Sunday’s crucial Premier League clash with Manchester City. Both players picked up injuries during Wednesday’s 2-0 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League, a game that showcased Liverpool’s impressive form this season.
Konaté appeared to be in considerable discomfort as he required treatment late in the match and has reportedly been ruled out for the remainder of the year. Meanwhile, Bradley was forced off towards the end of the game, later confirming on Friday that he would not be available for the weekend fixture.
Speaking about the injuries, Liverpool manager Arne Slot expressed concern, saying on Thursday, “Let’s wait and see, but it’s never a good sign when players cannot finish a match. Conor had to come off, and Ibou couldn’t walk off the pitch as he should have after such an outstanding performance. He should have done a lap to applaud the fans, but unfortunately, he couldn’t, which is worrying.”
On a positive note, Slot received encouraging news regarding vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold, providing a glimmer of hope for Liverpool’s defensive options.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, who missed Liverpool’s 3-2 victory over Southampton last weekend due to a hamstring issue, made a return to the bench during the midweek win against Real Madrid.
However, Liverpool are likely to be without several key players for the clash against Manchester City. Diogo Jota, Kostas Tsimikas, Federico Chiesa, and Alisson Becker are not expected to feature as the Reds prepare to face the reigning champions, who currently sit eight points behind them in the Premier League standings.
Liverpool – Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)
- Goalkeeper – Kelleher
- Defenders – Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson
- Midfielders – Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones
- Forwards – Salah, Diaz, Nunez
Injured/Doubtful – Alisson, Jota, Konate, Tsimikas, Chiesa
Man City – Team News
Manchester City may be boosted by the return of Ruben Dias for Sunday’s pivotal Premier League clash with Liverpool. The Portuguese defender, who was sidelined for three games, returned to the bench during Tuesday’s dramatic 3-3 Champions League draw with Feyenoord, offering Pep Guardiola some much-needed defensive reinforcement amid their struggles.
City’s ongoing poor form has seen Guardiola admit that a defeat at Anfield would effectively end their hopes of securing a fifth consecutive Premier League title. With Dias potentially shoring up the backline, his return could provide a timely boost to a team Guardiola recently described as “fragile.”
John Stones remains a significant doubt after missing the Feyenoord fixture, while long-term absentees Mateo Kovacic, Oscar Bobb, and Rodri are still unavailable. Meanwhile, Kevin De Bruyne could be in line for his first start in weeks, having made brief appearances off the bench recently. However, doubts linger over Jeremy Doku’s involvement.
When asked about the availability of injured players, Guardiola was non-committal, saying on Friday, “We’ll see today. Today we will see.”
Man City – Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)
- Goalkeeper – Ederson
- Defenders – Walker, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol
- Midfielders – Gundogan, Silva, De Bruyne
- Forwards – Foden, Haaland, Grealish
Injured/Doubtful – Stones, Kovacic, Bobb, Rodri
Liverpool vs Man City: Match Prediction
While Manchester City’s decline can’t last forever given the quality in their squad, Liverpool will certainly be relishing the opportunity. With a solid record at Anfield against their rivals, a home victory seems the most probable outcome.
Prediction – Liverpool 3-1 Man City
When and Where to Watch the Liverpool vs Man City Match? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The highly anticipated Premier League clash between Liverpool and Man City is set for Sunday, December 1, at the iconic Anfield stadium, kicking off at 9:30 p.m. (IST). The match will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network for TV viewers, while online streaming will be available on Disney+ Hotstar, allowing fans to follow the high-stakes game on their preferred device. With a thrilling encounter anticipated at the iconic Old Trafford stadium, supporters won’t want to miss a moment of this Premier League showdown.
Read More: The World’s Oldest Football Rivalry, “Rules Derby” Returns: A Historic Clash Restored
FAQs
Will Ruben Dias play against Liverpool?
Ruben Dias is likely to return, providing much-needed defensive support for Manchester City after missing their last three games.
What is Liverpool’s injury update for the City clash?
Ibrahima Konaté is ruled out for weeks, Conor Bradley will miss the game, and Diogo Jota, Kostas Tsimikas, Federico Chiesa, and Alisson Becker are also unavailable. Trent Alexander-Arnold could return after recovering from a hamstring injury.
How has City performed recently against Liverpool at Anfield?
City have won only once in their last 21 Premier League visits to Anfield and have not won there with fans present since 2003.
What are Liverpool’s prospects for the match?
Given Liverpool’s strong form and City’s recent struggles, a home win seems likely. Predicted score: Liverpool 3-1 Manchester City.
