Man City vs Liverpool: Premier League team news and prediction

Title contenders Manchester City and Liverpool face off today in a game that could well determine who secures domestic glory this season. When once City seemed to have the title wrapped up, Liverpool have thrust themselves back into the reckoning and now only a point separates the pair. 

Ahead of this one, we provide the necessary pre-match information, including where to watch this match, what time it kicks off, team news and probable XIs. 

When is kick off?      

Sunday 10th April, 16:30 GMT      

Where is the match?      

Etihad Stadium, Manchester 

What TV channel is it on?      

Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football  

Form Guide 

Manchester City have endured a minor wobble in recent weeks. In their last eight matches, they have dropped points in three, drawing at Southampton and Crystal Palace, and falling to a 3-2 home defeat to Tottenham. A 12-game winning run from the start of November to mid January led many to believe that City had the title wrapped up at the turn of the year, but their lead at the top of the table has since been cut to just one point. 

That's because Liverpool have made a stunning start to 2022. They have far and away the best record this calendar year having picked up 31 points from 33 available, with a 2-2 draw at Chelsea to ring in the New Year the only mark on the record book. A 10-game winning streak has propelled them back into title contention, but they'll need to earn a first league win at City since 2015 to end the weekend top of the table. 

Team News 

Pep Guardiola is without key centre-back Ruben Dias for the welcome of Liverpool, with John Stones expected to deputise alongside Aymeric Laporte at the heart of the defence once more. Other than that, Manchester City have no major absentee concerns. Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva are competing to join Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne in the middle of the park, though the latter may start as a false nine to allow the Portuguese midfielder the chance to start. 

Jurgen Klopp moved to allay fears that Fabinho had sustained a serious head injury at Benfica in midweek and the Brazilian is Liverpool's only concern, however minor. Klopp otherwise has a full squad to select from. He could, therefore, make just one change to the XI that started in Lisbon, with Joel Matip returning to the side to partner Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence. 

Probable XIs 

Man City (433) - Ederson; Walker, Stones, Laporte, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan; Sterling, Foden, Grealish 

Liverpool (433) - Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Keita, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Mane, Diaz

Key Battle: Phil Foden vs Sadio Mane

Phil Foden's form may have dipped of late, but if there is one thing the England international knows how to do best, it's hit the back of the net against Liverpool. Foden has scored in each of his three league outings against the Reds, and provided an assist in two of those three. The 21-year-old came off the bench to provide the key assist for Kevin De Bruyne's winner against Atletico Madrid in midweek, so will be full of confidence ahead of this one.

Sadio Mane must have felt his position in the Liverpool starting XI was under threat when the Reds announced Luis Diaz's arrival in January. The duo operate best off the left, but Jurgen Klopp was unwilling to end Mane and Mohamed Salah's partnership on the frontline. As such, Mane has been used through the middle in recent weeks, with four of his last five league starts coming as the leading striker.

The 30-year-old hasn't disappointed in the role either with four of his 12 league goals coming from four starts in attack. Mane netted in the reverse fixture, and he'll be looking to maintain his solid start to 2022 in Manchester today.

Score Prediction: Manchester City 2-2 Liverpool