PREMIER LEAGUE football is back with a bang as Manchester City host Liverpool at the Etihad – and Pep has gone very attacking!
The City gaffer has fielded an attacking FIVE of Bernardo, Foden, Doku, Alvarez and Haaland.
But Jack Grealish misses out through illness.
- Kick-off time: 12:30pm GMT
- Live stream: NOW TV
- TV channel: Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Premier League
- Man City XI: Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Dias, Ake; Rodri, Bernardo, Doku; Foden, Alvarez, Haaland
- Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Jones; Salah, Nunez, Jota
- Explainer: Why is the match on Sky Sports and not TNT Sports?
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- By Kieran Davies
Goals galore expected in Manchester
Man City are looking to equal a club record today of scoring at least three goals in six successive games in all competitions.
Erling Haaland is one goal shy of 50 Premier League goals for Pep Guardiola's side.
Mohamed Salah is two goals short of 200 goals for Liverpool in all competitions.
- By Kieran Davies
Teams have their own goal machines
What may decide this game today, is which of the prolific players they both have in their sides, comes out on top.
Nunez and Salah seem to have more of an understanding this season and have a combined 19 goals between the pair this season.
But you can never overlook Haaland, although he is still looking for his first ever goal against Liverpool.
- By Kieran Davies
Pep opts for new look City
Guardiola has opted for a very attacking formation with three at the back today for the visit of Liverpool.
While Akanji can drop into the defensive third to help out, it gives the m plenty more options in the final third with four players supporting Haaland up top.
Transition will be key for Jurgen Klopp's side, if they can do that well, they could stretch this back three and cause problems for the defending champions.
- By Kieran Davies
Liverpool subs:
62. Kelleher, 2. Gomez, 3. Endo, 5. Konate, 7. Diaz, 18. Gakpo, 19. Elliott, 38. Gravenberch, 78. Quansah
- By Kieran Davies
Liverpool starting XI:
The big team news for the visitors are the additions of Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota to the starting line-up.
1. Alisson, 66. Alexander-Arnold, 32. Matip, 4. van Dijk, 21. Tsimikas, 8. Szoboszlai, 10. Mac Allister, 17. Jones, 11. Salah, 9. Nunez, 20. Jota
Credit: @LFC - By Kieran Davies
Man City subs:
18. Ortega, 33. Carson, 4. Phillips, 5. Stones, 21. Gomez, 24. Gvardiol, 52. Bobb, 82. Lewis
- By Kieran Davies
Man City starting XI:
Pep Guardiola opts for an attacking formation as it seems they have opted for a 3-2-4-1 formation for today's game.
31. Ederson, 2. Walker, 3. Dias, 6. Ake, 16. Rodri, 25. Akanji, 47. Foden, 19. Alvarez, 20. Silva, 11. Doku, 9. Haaland
Credit: @ManCity - By Kieran Davies
Citizens favourites to continue home form
The bookies cannot see far past a home win in this game today.
Manchester City – 8/13
Draw – 12/5
Liverpool – 3/1
All match odds brought to you by Betfair.
- By Kieran Davies
Odds stacked against German manager
If Man City win this game today, they will make it twenty-four consecutive home wins in all competitions.
This would eclipse a record set in the top-flight by Sunderland all the way back in 1892.
Jurgen Klopp has never beaten Pep Guardiola here in the Premier League and will need to change that if they are to stop City continuing their incredible home form.
- By Kieran Davies
Eithad ready for titanic battle of the giants
It is a fresh wintery morning in Manchester as Pep Guardiola's defending Premier League champions welcome Liverpool to town.
The fans are starting to gather for the standout fixture of the weekend's fixtures.
If their recent game against Chelsea is anything to go by, this could be an absolute classic.
Credit: Reuters - By Kieran Davies
Ultimate test of defensive lynchpin
Many people have questioned whether Virgil van Dijk is the same defender ever since his horrific injury sustained against Everton a few seasons back.
Facing this Man City attack will be the ultimate test of the capabilities of the big Dutchman.
Aside from having a personal battle with Erling Haaland, he will need to command his back four to ensure they deal with the threats posed by the likes of Doku, Silva, Foden and Grealish.
- By Kieran Davies
City show chink in the armour
After possibly one of the most exciting games of the season so far, Man City’s epic 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge made many take note.
It is rare to see a Pep Guardiola side concede so many goals and with Liverpool’s swashbuckling attacking line, Jurgen Klopp’s side will take confidence from this game.
Aside from the goals scored, Chelsea created many other chances and should The Citizens give the likes of Salah, Diaz, Jota and Nunez the same amount of opportunities we could be seeing a similar type of game.
- By Kieran Davies
Game to set tone for season ahead
After their diabolical season last term, Jurgen Klopp’s side have an opportunity to make a statement against Man City today.
Such has been the competition between these two sides for a number of years, The Reds can stake a claim once again to be the team ready to go toe-to-toe with Guardiola’s champions.
Defeat in Manchester will put serious doubts on whether Liverpool are ready to be challenging for titles once again.
- By Kieran Davies
Welcome to Man City vs Liverpool
Pep Guardiola’s defending champions welcome their closest rivals to the Etihad Stadium, looking to rewrite the history books with victory.
Should Man City get the win, it will be a 24th consecutive home victory, emulating the record set by Sunderland in 1892.
Man City have had a number of pieces of good news going into the titanic showdown, with Erling Haaland returning to training after a twisted ankle of international duty and is fit for the game.
Ederson and Nathan Ake both returned to training after being injury doubts and news is that Rodri is also available for the game against Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Mateo Kovacic, Sergio Gomez, Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones and Matheus Nunes are all out for the top of the table clash however.
The Citizens still head into this game looking in good shape with the main spine to their team available and new signing Jeremy Doku in red-hot form.
Liverpool have had their own injury battles but Ryan Gravenberch, Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones and Ibrahima Konate have all been declared fit for the short trip to Manchester.
Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic and Andrew Robertson all remain out for The Reds while Klopp will monitor the match-readiness of his South American quartet of Luis Diaz, Alisson, Darwin Nunez and Alexis Mac Allister who have all been travelling the across the globe.
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