Liverpool and Manchester City will cross swords at Anfield in the Premier League in what will be the biggest game of the weekend.
Manchester City head to Anfield unbeaten throughout the 2022-23 campaign, brimming with confidence and second in the table. Liverpool, in contrast, find themselves languishing in 10th place after registering only two wins and 10 points from eight games.
Having suffered a 3-1 defeat in the Community Shield curtain-raiser at the start of the season in August, City will have revenge on their minds. The Reds haven’t been in the greatest of forms but their 7-1 rout of Rangers at the Ibrox in the Champions League on Wednesday should lift their spirits massively ahead of the big encounter.
That said, let us take a look at the combined XI featuring stars from both Liverpool and Manchester City.
Liverpool vs Man City combined XI (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper
With Alisson having an inconsistent start to the season and leaking too many goals for his and our liking, Ederson will get the nod in between the sticks.
Defence
Liverpool’s Achilles heel has uncharacteristically been their defence this season, with Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold struggling for form. Man City, in contrast, have let in just nine goals in as many games. In John Stones and Aymeric Laporte’s injury absences, summer signing Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake have stepped up to the plate while Ruben Dias is City’s defensive lynchpin.
Regardless of Van Dijk’s up and down form this term, the towering Dutchman cannot be kept out of the starting XI. It will be a tad unfair to not include Akanji after his series of impressive displays in recent weeks, but not picking a fully fit and healthy Ruben Dias to partner Van Dijk in central defence should be calamitous.
With Kyle Walker and Trent Alexander-Arnold injured, Joao Cancelo becomes a quick favourite to start at right-back, with the fit-again Andy Robertson occupying the left-back slot.
Midfield
Kevin de Bruyne has to be one of the first names on the team sheet. He’s been in exceptional form this season for City, with the Belgian midfield maestro controlling games, creating chances, making assists and scoring goals with utter ease and poise.
De Bruyne will start in a deeper role alongside Rodri, who gets the nod ahead of Fabinho following the Brazilian’s slight dip in form. Acting as the glue between midfield and attack will be Roberto Firmino, who has been Liverpool’s rare bright spot in an otherwise underwhelming season.
Attack
With a staggering 20 goals in 12 games across all competitions (including 15 in nine Premier League outings), it is difficult to look beyond Erling Haaland. The Norwegian has made quite an impact in the Premier League since his summer move from Borussia Dortmund and, having been rested in the midweek Champions League game against FC Copenhagen, there will be an eagerness for Haaland to be in top condition when leading the attack.
Liverpool behemoth Mohamed Salah has had a disappointing start to the season as per the high standards he has set over the last few years. But after his record-breaking hat-trick in Rangers’ 7-1 demolition at the Ibrox, Salah will be a completely different player when facing City at Anfield.
Luis Diaz is unfortunately injured while Diogo Jota has not played much this season. Thus, Phil Foden becomes an easy choice on the left flank, thanks purely to his attacking quality, flexibility and nine-goal contribution thus far.
