This fixture has one eye on the title race
Can Liverpool stop Erling Haaland? That will be the question on everybody’s minds when the champions travel to the Etihad on Sunday to face Manchester City. As the combined league winners of the last eight seasons clash, Arsenal will sit quietly at the side hoping they take points off each other. Is a draw a likely result then?
It feels like whichever side wins will be regarded as the main contender against the runaway league leaders – at least for the next three weeks or so.
Liverpool lost four of their five matches in October, making it six defeats in seven games. But they have struck the right tone in November, winning their two games played against Aston Villa and Real Madrid. But both games were at Anfield though. How will they fare at the Etihad?
Arne Slot said: “Playing there away from home is probably one of the most difficult challenges you have throughout the season.
“There is a lot of work to be done by the players to get a performance like [we did against Madrid and Villa], but it is helpful.
“I think we can anticipate City’s playing style. It’s the same one we always see, but the difficult thing is that they are very good at it and have very good players so that makes that challenge big.”
Manchester City have been in impressive form, winning six of their last seven, although it might be more appropriate to say that Haaland has been in impressive form. The Norwegian has been lugging City on his back like a stubborn Viking rescuing an injured comrade.
Having said that, there are signs of other contributors stepping up. Phil Foden dazzled against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, scoring a brace. And Rayan Cherki combined superbly with Haaland last weekend, a combination City fans will be hoping can bear more fruit in coming weeks.
Meanwhile Pep Guardiola, who will be in charge for his 1,000th game as a manager on Sunday, is in party mood, and who better than his best buddies from Merseyside to celebrate with, according to him.
“If I could choose one rival for this personal milestone that I want to share with many, many people, that would be the best,” Guardiola said.
“Hopefully our people come to celebrate my anniversary in the stadium and together we can beat an important rival.”
Team News
Rodri is still battling with fitness and Mateo Kovacic is out of action, which means that Nico Gonzalez should continue in defensive midfield. Rayan Ait-Nouri has returned and made a second-half appearance against Dortmund in midweek, but it is not clear if he is fit enough to start. Everyone else is available for City.
For Liverpool, Isak has returned to training but may be fit enough only to make the bench. Jeremie Frimpong and Alisson Becker are still out injured, with Giovanni Leoni a long-term absentee. The rest of the gang are at Slot’s disposal
Predicted Lineups
Manchester City predicted lineup vs Liverpool (4-1-4-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Gvardiol, Dias, O’Reilly; Gonzalez; Silva, Foden, Cherki, Doku; Haaland
Liverpool predicted lineup vs Manchester City (4-3-3): Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Ekitike, Gakpo
Date: Sunday, 9 November 2025
Kick-off Time: 4.30pm GMT / 11.30am ET
Manchester City vs Liverpool Match Prediction
Manchester City 2-2 Liverpool
