Liverpool vs Manchester City - The Big Match Preview

Premier League football returns to Anfield this weekend as Liverpool seek consecutive wins for the first time this season when they meet Manchester City.

Heading into matchday six, the Reds sit sixth with nine points after defeating Bournemouth 1-0 last time out, while City lead the way with 15 points after a 5-3 win over Sunderland.

Credits: BBC Sports

Match Context

Andoni Iraola and his side are back to work, hoping to build on a solid all-around performance against the Cherries before the international break.

The Reds can collect a fourth successive clean sheet this weekend, extend their Premier League unbeaten run at Anfield to eight matches dating back to last season, and also win their first home game of the competition in 2026-27.

Under Iraola, this group has been much tighter defensively than we saw a season ago under Arne Slot, and they head into this matchday ranked third in the league for average goals conceded per match (0.8).

This weekend, the Spaniard could become just the third permanent Liverpool boss to avoid defeat in each of his first six top-flight outings in charge, with the other two being Bob Paisley in 1974 and Joe Fagan in 1983.

While there have been notable improvements at the back, this team hasn't forgotten to apply Iraola’s high-octane style, putting high-intensity pressure on 48.9% of their opponent’s touches in the opposition half, the most of any side in this competition.

Sunday will mark the first time these two teams meet without Jürgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola in the dugout since 2015, with the Reds winning three of those last four encounters at Anfield across all competitions.

It was a tumultuous international break for Man City, with the club found guilty of all charges related to breaching the competition's financial regulations.

Enzo Maresca could become just the fourth manager to win his first six Premier League affairs with a new club this weekend, after Carlo Ancelotti, Guardiola and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

On Sunday, Maresca can do something his predecessor did only twice in his illustrious tenure at the club: win his first six Premier League outings to begin a season.

The Italian has unlocked this team’s attacking creativity as the Sky Blues rank second in the league for expected goals (10.5) and third for big chances (17).

Away from home, the Sky Blues have been compact defensively, conceding one goal or fewer in eight of their last nine league games outside the Etihad, while taking points in 10 successive domestic encounters as the visitors.

Man City will seek a fourth consecutive triumph against Liverpool on Sunday, and they can claim successive domestic victories at Anfield for the first time since the 1950s, beating them 2-1 in a 1952 First Division clash in Merseyside and winning 1-0 the following season.

Team News

Liverpool will see significant changes, with Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo, and Jérémy Jacquet all injured during the international window. Meanwhile, Federico Chiesa remains doubtful, and Conor Bradley is recovering from a knee issue.

Hugo Ekitiké is still recovering from his Achilles injury, Vitezslav Jaros has a sore knee, and Giovanni Leoni is out with an ACL strain.

Alisson will seek his third successive clean sheet in this competition on Sunday, as he is currently tied for first in that department alongside Everton’s Jordan Pickford, with both at three.

At City, Nico O’Reilly is the only major injury concern, as he is dealing with an unspecified issue and might miss the weekend.

Haaland and Semenyo picked up minor knocks during the international window, but both are expected to feature in this match, while Phil Foden will be suspended.

Their first-choice goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, has a 100% record at Anfield, conceding just once in his two visits to Merseyside.

Key Players

No one who follows the Reds would argue that Florian Wirtz's transition from the Bundesliga to the Premier League has gone smoothly. The German playmaker has 0.39 expected assists in 403 Premier League minutes this season. With significant injuries to the Liverpool squad this weekend, he needs to step up and show something.

Without a central figure up front, expect to see Bradley Barcola’s blistering pace used more for the Reds, with Wirtz hopefully able to find the speedy Frenchman in space.

Defensively, Liverpool will have their hands full trying to contain Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo, who are first and second in the league in expected goals overperformance, with the former Lyon man on three goals from 0.72 xG (+2.28) and Semenyo on two from 0.34 xG (+1.66).

Virgil van Dijk and whoever he is paired with will have a huge task shutting those two down, not to mention they’re trying to contain the strongest and most deadly #9 in world football: Erling Haaland. The Norwegian has scored five goals in his last three games against Liverpool, including a hat-trick in the FA Cup quarter-final last season and a stoppage-time winner the last time he played at Anfield.

In the middle of the pitch, expect Dominik Szoboszlai to be key for the Reds as he looks to control the central midfield tempo against the explosiveness of Enzo Fernandez and Elliot Anderson.

Credits: Liverpool FC

Tactical Breakdown

We may not have the familiar faces we’re used to when these teams squared off on Sunday, but there are still a few fascinating tactical battles to watch.

Among the biggest will be how Liverpool’s high press handles City’s build-up, two contrasting styles of play. Can the Reds create turnovers and win the ball more in the attacking third, or will the Sky Blues pass through that press and burn Liverpool in transition?

Another key area to watch for is how both sides control the flanks. While they’ve been better there, Liverpool's fullbacks still aren't completely shutting down opposing attacks, and City may try to expose that. How these teams structure their flanks will be pivotal in determining whether we see a tight chess match or a goal-fest.

Predicted XI 

Liverpool: Alisson; Frimpong, Araujo, van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Wirtz; Barcola, Muñoz, Ngumoha

Manchester City: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guéhi, Gvardiol; Anderson, Fernandez; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku; Haaland