In one of Liverpool’s most important games this season, Jurgen Klopp’s side will welcome Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday.
The Reds are currently a point ahead of their Manchester rivals in the league standings but a defeat would be a huge blow to their title hopes this season.
Match Preview
Liverpool were on the verge of suffering a draw against Nottingham Forest last weekend but Darwin Nunez came off the bench to grab a 99th-minute winner at the City Ground.
The victory meant Jurgen Klopp’s men maintained their one-point lead at the summit.
They will enter Sunday’s headline fixture on the back of a 5-1 win over Sparta Prague in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie.
Nunez bagged a brace while Alexis Mac Allister, Luis Diaz and Dominik Szoboszlai also scored to help the Reds to an emphatic victory at the epet Arena.
That was their seventh successive win in all competitions since the 3-1 defeat at Arsenal last month.
On the other hand, Manchester City cruised to a 6-2 aggregate win against Copenhagen on Wednesday to qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals.
But now their focus returns to the Premier League where they are in a fierce title race with Liverpool and Arsenal.
Pep Guardiola’s side looked in danger of dropping points against Manchester United last Sunday after Marcus Rashford scored a stunning goal before the interval.
But a stunning second-half comeback saw Phil Foden and Erling Haaland bagging three goals to complete the Citizens’ brilliant comeback.
City haven’t lost a game across all tournaments since the 1-0 reverse at the hands of Aston Villa in December.
Team News
Jurgen Klopp will be dealing with many injury woes this weekend, with Joel Matip, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ryan Gravenberch, Ben Doak, Alisson Becker, Thiago Alcantara, Curtis Jones and Stefan Bajcetic all guaranteed absentees. Ibrahima Konate also picked up a knock on Thursday and so his availability is doubtful.
As for Manchester City, Jack Grealish will be missing due to a groin issue while Jeremy Doku will need to be assessed before Sunday’s game.
Liverpool vs Manchester City potential line-ups
Liverpool: Kelleher; Bradley, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Endo, Mac Allister; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Stones, Ake; Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne; Foden, Haaland, Alvarez
Liverpool vs Manchester City prediction
Jurgen Klopp’s side are unbeaten at home in 29 straight fixtures since Real Madrid’s Champions League triumph over a year ago. Sunday’s game is hugely important for Man City but they boast a terrible record at Anfield, winning just two of their 26 previous visits to the venue.
We think Liverpool will emerge victorious this weekend, despite their many injury issues.
Liverpool 2-1 Manchester City
