Liverpool and Manchester City go head-to-head on Saturday as the Premier League’s top two meet at the Etihad Stadium in an early kick-off.
The Reds went into the international break off the back of a comprehensive 3-0 win over Brentford. The win against Brentford extended their unbeaten run in the league to five games since the controversial 2-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in September.
Back after the break, Jurgen Klopp and his boys will be fired up to face Man City as they aim to continue their superb form this season and in the process topple the Sky Blues at the top of the table.
Liverpool Team News
Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez could all return from injury after missing the win over Brentford. Alexis Mac Allister also returns from suspension, but Jurgen Klopp is still without Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic while Andy Robertson is recovering from a shoulder surgery.
Predicted Liverpool lineup vs Manchester City (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
Alisson Becker is Liverpool’s undisputed No.1 and will, of course, start in goal against Man City. He will have to be at his sublime best to keep a clean sheet at the Etihad.
Defence
Virgil van Dijk will be partnered by Joel Matip in central defence in the Liverpool lineup, with Ibrahima Konate unlikely to be rushed back.
Alexander-Arnold will play at right back and sometimes look to invert to give Liverpool an extra presence in midfield. Konstantinos Tsimikas provided two assists last time out in the Reds’ win over Brentford and will continue deputising at left-back in the Liverpool lineup for the injured Andy Robertson.
The Liverpool back four have to work really hard and stay disciplined throughout the game to stop a well-oiled Man City side from scoring.
Midfield
Due to Alexis Mac Allister’s possible fatigue following his runout with Argentina against Brazil late on Tuesday, Wataru Endo might sit in defensive midfield behind Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch in the Liverpool lineup, provided the latter is passed fit before the game.
With Endo holding the fort in midfield, Szoboszlai and Gravenberch will get the license to push forward and create openings in the final third for the forwards.
Mac Allister, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliot will need to wait for their opportunities on the bench.
Attack
One of the first names on the team sheet, Mohamed Salah is a certainty to start on the right while Diogo Jota is expected to get the nod on the left in the Liverpool lineup ahead of Luis Diaz again. Darwin Nunez, who scored in Uruguay’s 3-0 win over Bolivia in the World Cup Qualifiers, should spearhead the Liverpool attack again.
Fresh from scoring a brace for Colombia against Brazil last week, Diaz will be raring to make a mark at the Etihad Stadium off the bench.
