Liverpool Vs Manchester City Preview And Prediction: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Streaming Sites

Premier League leaders Liverpool will brace themselves for their biggest challenge yet, as they take on Manchester City on Sunday. It will be a high stake encounter with the winner set to either remain or move on top of the league table and sign off for the international break on a positive note. The hosts Liverpool are coming on the back of a 5-1 victory over FC Porto in the UEFA Champions League but did concede three goals against Brentford last weekend.

Manchester City, on the other hand, are currently in an excellent run of form in the league, securing four wins in their last five matches. But they slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, so the morale will be relatively low as they brace themselves for another stern test against the table-toppers, who will be keen on landing another league title this season.

Liverpool Vs Manchester City Preview

Talking Tactics

Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp is unlikely to shift away from his tried and tested 4-3-3 setup with additional emphasis on creating chances in the final third. The fullbacks are going to be vital as they can whip in crosses into the box as well as keep tabs on Man City’s wide attackers. Klopp may also look to make full use of set-pieces and break down the opposing defence with his traditional counter-attacking play.

Manchester City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola should stick to his laurels as well, starting with a 4-2-3-1 shape with Bernardo Silva operating in a relatively deeper role. In this setup, the wide attackers like Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez tend to remain wide rather than drifting inside while the fullbacks could operate in an inverted role, using them to counteract the intense Liverpool press.

Team News

Liverpool

Liverpool are without a few players heading into this encounter including Thiago Alcantara and Trent Alexander-Arnold while the young Harvey Elliott is also out with a long-term injury. Klopp is expected to start with Curtis Jones following his impressive display against FC Porto while James Milner may continue to deputize for the injured right-back Alexander-Arnold.

Manchester City

Ilkay Gundogan and Oleksandr Zinchenko are unavailable for Manchester City in this encounter. Benjamin Mendy is out as well after being suspended by the club over alleged sexual assault. As such, Joao Cancelo could once again be asked to operate at left-back while Guardiola might deploy Bernardo Silva in midfield, alongside Rodri.

Predicted Lineups

Liverpool: Alisson; Milner, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Jones; Salah, Firmino, Mane

Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo; Rodri, Silva; Jesus, de Bruyne, Grealish; Foden

Prediction

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City

Streaming