It will be a rollercoaster as EPL title challengers Liverpool trade tackles with defending champions Manchester City at Anfield today.
The debate on whether Manchester City will secure a fabulous five-peat will be laid to rest today in a Premier League headline act at Merseyside.
A lot is at stake in the six-pointer clash for both teams. Liverpool could extend their lead at the top of the table to an unassailable 11 points while Manchester City could cut down the challenger’s eight-point lead to a narrower 5 points gap.
Hence, it will be a rollercoaster with the two sides set to mobilize all in their arsenal to prosecute the cracker.
Match preview and potential lineup
The two teams will meet on the hills of contrasting fortunes domestically and in Europe. Liverpool have only dropped four points this season from a Premier League defeat to Nottingham Forest and a draw against Arsenal.
They have recorded a perfect European campaign, winning all their five Champions League matches and 10 of the 12 EPL fixtures.
Their last six matches in all competitions have ended in victories.
Conversely, Manchester City are treading in the humblest phase of the club’s history.
For the first time, they have gone six matches without a win – a dragging run of misfortune that reached its nadir when they surrendered a three-goal lead against Feyenoord in the UEFA Champions League.
Before the disappointing draw against Feyenoord, the Premier League champions lost five matches in a row for the first time in decades with the fifth match ending in a shocking 4-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
Can they turn the tides against Liverpool? It seems unlikely. However, a scrutiny of their potential lineup could offer a clue.
Arne Slot was quick to assemble his winning team after assuming the reins at Anfield as the new manager. Except for Ibrahim Konate who has been ruled out due to injury, the Reds are expected to parade their regular lineup in the match with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Luiz Diaz, and Mac Allister set to start.
Caoimihn Kelleher will be on goal while Conor Bradley will start at the defence as well with other first-team regulars like Virgil van Dijk and Diogo Jota expected to make the cut.
For Manchester City, Ederson will start on goal with IIkay Gundogan, John Stones, and Erling Haaland expected to start as well.
Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias and Savinho are also possible priority options for Pep Guardiola.
Liverpool vs Manchester City prediction
While Liverpool is heading into this match as favourites, they have been winless against Manchester City in their past four meetings, drawing 2 and losing 2. The match is likely to end in a draw with a 2-2 exact scoreline.
