Liverpool vs Manchester City tips and predictions: Reds to inflict more misery on champions

Liverpool state of play 

Liverpool have been nothing short of dominant during their march to the top of the Premier League table this season. Losing only one game this season in all competitions.

The Reds have chalked up an impressive 10-1-1 record in the Premier League. They will welcome second-place Manchester City to Anfield on Sunday where they’ve won nine out of their ten home matches in all competitions. 

Liverpool are coming off one of their toughest tests of the season, a midweek Champions League showdown with Real Madrid, which they passed with flying colours - running out 2-0 winners thanks to goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo.

If that wasn’t impressive enough, the club has also been dominant on home turf, winning eight straight matches and outscoring their opponents by a massive 22-3 margin.

Manchester City state of play 

While Sunday’s matchup features the top two teams in the Premier League table, Manchester City have not played like one of the league’s elite teams of late. 

In the wake of their stunning meltdown in Tuesday’s 3-3 draw with Feyenoord in the Champions League, the Citizens have now gone six without a win across all competitions - with the five prior to their midweek collapse all being defeats.

That run of form includes three straight defeats in the Premier League, leaving City eight points adrift of the top of the table and just one point ahead of Chelsea, Arsenal and Brighton.

Key talking point: Can City overcome their Champions League collapse in Sunday’s trip to red-hot Liverpool? 

Manchester City players were subjected to uncharacteristically rough treatment by their home supporters, who rained down boos at full time after they blew a 3-0 second-half lead in the final 15 minutes of Tuesday’s draw with Feyenoord. 

While it is easy to point to injuries for the team’s woes, it is tough to argue with Pep Guardiola’s assessment of the club following Tuesday’s debacle, with the City manager describing his club as “weak and fragile”. 

Such language is designed to provoke a response out of his players, it will likely take more than a public dressing down for City to overcome a defensive collapse that has enabled opponents to score 17 times during their 0-1-5 run.

FIRST’s top tip for Liverpool vs Manchester City 

Mohamed Salah first goalscorer at 9/2 with Coral

No player has contributed as much to Liverpool’s epic run of form as talisman Mohamed Salah. 

The Egyptian forward has found a higher gear during the Reds’ current undefeated streak, scoring six of the club’s 11 total goals over their past five league contests, capped by a two-goal performance in last weekend’s 3-2 victory over Southampton. 

Salah has also struck with regularity when facing City, scoring three times in the last five matches. With the Citizens struggling in front of goal in the Premier League, Salah offers considerable value as a 9/2 bet at Coral to open the scoring at Anfield on Sunday.

Extra tips 

Bet Builder: BTTS No and Liverpool to win at 15/4 with Matchbook

It has been over two years since Liverpool got a victory over Manchester City, with the Reds picking up just two total points in four meetings since that last win in October 2022. 

However, with these Premier League powerhouses seemingly headed in opposite directions, it is tough to see City snapping out of their current funk against arguably the best team on the planet right now.

Liverpool have now played over 340 minutes of football without conceding since last surrendering a goal on home turf in a 2-1 win over Brighton almost four weeks ago. With City scoring just twice over their past three league contests, there is little reason to expect Sunday’s result to be any different. 

Team news

Injuries continued to be a massive concern for City, with John Stones joining a growing list of sidelined players that already includes Rodri, Oscar Bobb and Mateo Kovacic. 

The club got some good news with the recent return to training of Ruben Dias and Jeremy Doku but their status for Sunday’s match-up is unclear.

Liverpool received a lift with the return to the squad of defender Trent Alexander-Arnold fir Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League. However, striker Diogo Jota and goalkeeper Alisson Becker were not yet ready to return on Wednesday night.

Liverpool vs Manchester City predicted line-ups 

Liverpool: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones; Salah, Nunez, Diaz (4-3-3)

Manchester City: Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol; Silva, Gundogan, Nunes; Foden, Haaland, Grealish (4-3-3)

Form guide (all competitions)

Liverpool: WWWDWWWWWW

Manchester City: WWWWLLLLLD

Odds correct at the time of writing.