Liverpool and Manchester City are set to lock horns at Anfield this Sunday in a monumental Premier League showdown, with title implications hanging in the balance. Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola’s teams are separated by just a single point, both boasting 19 wins from their 27 league games, as they chase Arsenal who sit at 61 points. With Arsenal still to play later in the month, City, bolstered by the fit-again Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, are in a prime position to take control of the title race.
Liverpool, however, are heading into this clash missing several key players including Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota, Joel Matip, Thiago, Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch, and Stefan Bajcetic. Despite these significant absences, the return of Mo Salah to the starting lineup, following his appearance from the bench in the Europa League where Liverpool demolished Sparta Prague 5-1, offers a glimmer of hope.
Liverpool’s home record this season – 11 wins and two draws from 13 Premier League matches at Anfield – underscores their resilience, making the outcome of this encounter anything but predictable. Historical encounters between these two giants have been closely contested, with the last five meetings yielding two wins each and a draw, suggesting that a draw, especially one where both teams score, might be a prudent prediction.
The rivalry has been characterised by high-scoring affairs, with an average of 3.3 goals per game in the league this season for both teams, and Liverpool hitting at least three goals in their last five home matches. Although Manchester City’s defence might offer more resistance, a 2-2 scoreline seems like a reasonable bet.
Erling Haaland, City’s standout striker, who has been in formidable form scoring seven goals in his last three matches, is the one to watch. Given the array of talent on both sides, goals are expected, but Haaland stands out as a likely candidate to leave his mark on the game.
