Liverpool vs Manchester City: Match preview, lineups, quotes, form, injuries and how to watch

When and where to watch Liverpool vs Manchester City

Liverpool vs Manchester City kicks off at 4.30pm on Sunday 16 October.

You can catch all the action from Anfield on NOW via BT TV. 

Liverpool vs Man City match preview

A rampant City side face a Liverpool team in poor form, so on paper Pep’s men should be confident of another win.

But an impressive 7-1 win over Rangers in the Champions League in midweek will give the Reds fresh impetus.

Mohamed Salah hasn’t been at his red-hot best so far this season, but a six-minute hattrick at Ibrox will see him going into this game raring to go.

Striker Roberto Firmino has also been in great form recently, but at the other end of the pitch Virgil van Dijk and co. will have to be at their best to keep out Erling Haaland.

Manchester City have scored 13 goals in their last three matches and the big Norwegian striker was rested in midweek as the Citizens drew a blank in Copenhagen.

Pep’s squad is close to full strength while Jurgen Klopp has a number of injury concerns to overcome.

Will a rejuvenated Liverpool find a way to stop City or will the Blues continue their charge to the top of the table? 

Liverpool vs Manchester City predicted lineups

Liverpool: (4-2-3-1) Alisson; Gomez, Konate, van Dijk, Tsimikas, Fabinho, Thiago, Salah, Jota, Carvalho, Firmino.

Manchester City: (4-2-3-1) Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo, Gundogan, Silva, Foden, De Bryne, Grealish, Haaland.

Liverpool vs Man City: Injuries and suspensions

Liverpool suffered more than a defeat at the Emirates on Sunday. They left North London with injuries to key players too.

Luis Diaz left the stadium on crutches after a knee injury, while Trent Alexander-Arnold limped off with an ankle injury. Furthermore, centre-back Joel Matip had to be withdrawn with a calf problem.

Diaz is likely to be replaced by Roberto Firmino who has impressed every time he’s been called upon. Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate are in line to replace Alexander-Arnold and Matip respectively.

Manchester City come into this game without any fresh injury concerns after their European exploits, though defenders Kyle Walker and John Stones remain out through injury. 

Liverpool vs Man City: Form guide

In previous seasons, fixtures between these two club have been season-defining – crunch matches to determine where the league title ends up.

This time around though things are different. Their form coming into this tie is at opposite ends of the scale with Manchester City blowing teams away and Liverpool struggling to get a win.

Liverpool haven’t won in three league matches, losing 3-2 to Arsenal at the weekend on the back of draws against Brighton and Everton.

Man City have won their last three matches, scoring 13 goals in the process.

But midweek Champions League matches have made things more interesting. City could only manage a 0-0 draw out in Copenhagen, while Liverpool won 7-1 at Ibrox, with Mohamed Salah scoring a six-minute hattrick and Roberto Firmino scoring a brace.

Results breed confidence and Liverpool will be feeling more confident facing Pep’s men than they would’ve after defeat at the Emirates. 

He said what?!

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on turning his attention to the City game after his side’s 7-1 over Rangers in midweek:

“It’s changed the mood definitely, it’s completely different.

“We usually drink a beer after winning away games, it’s been so long that I will probably be drunk after one!

“It’s good but we all know who we are welcoming on Sunday and this will be a different game but it’s better to go into a game with the feeling we got tonight than any other.”

Discover Jurgen Klopp's non-negotiables when it comes to managing Liverpool

Liverpool vs Man City: Players to watch

Roberto Firmino has come in from the cold and been on fire for Liverpool. In midweek the Brazilian bagged a brace and assisted strike partner Darwin Nunez with a silky piece of skill for his goal.

With Luis Diaz out injured there’s an opportunity for both Firmino and Nunez to play together and for the duo to develop their link-up play further. Whether it’s assisting or scoring, Firmino is one to watch for the Reds.

Erling Haaland didn’t play away at Copenhagen in midweek, so he’s probably desperate to put on his scoring boots.

You can’t take your eyes off the Norwegian international at the moment as he continues to set new goalscoring feats in the Premier League.

Liverpool’s defence has been leaky of late, so can Haaland take advantage at Anfield? 

Liverpool vs Man City stats

• Struggling with the Blues: Liverpool are winless in their last five Premier League games against Manchester City (D3 L2) – they’ve never gone six without a win against the Citizens in their league history.
  
  
• Double delight: Liverpool have scored at least twice in each of their last four meetings with Manchester City in all competitions (W2 D2) – no team has ever scored at least twice in five consecutive games against a side managed by Pep Guardiola before.
  
  
• Bring on the big dogs! Liverpool have won 22 Premier League games against reigning champions, six more than any other side.
  
  
• The Man City machine: Manchester City have lost just one of their last 37 Premier League games, and are unbeaten in their last 21 (W16 D5). Away from home, the Citizens are unbeaten in 22 Premier League games (W16 D6), the fourth longest such run in the competition’s history.
  
  
• Slow starters: Only Southampton (7) have conceded the first goal more often than Liverpool (6). The Reds have conceded first in 10 of their last 12 league games.