Man City v Liverpool- Preview, Predictions, and Best Bets

Man City host Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium in the early kickoff on Saturday. Pep Guardiola’s side have won six successive matches in all competitions but begins this match with an eight-point gap to Arsenal having played a match less. The Reds followed up a 7-0 thrashing of Man Utd with two losses and they come into this match in sixth spot, six points off the top four with two games in hand.

Man City Form

City’s form this season has been below their top level. Their longest winning run in the league is just three matches but a victory here would make it four on the bounce and temporarily close the gap to Arsenal to five points. Their first eight matches of 2023 saw three losses in eight matches but a 3-1 win at Arsenal in mid-February took the side top of the table.

They could only draw 1-1 at Nottingham Forest in their next match but they’ve since won six in a row in all competitions. After a 2-0 home win against Newcastle, they needed a 78th-minute penalty to win 1-0 at Crystal Palace. They’ve plundered 13 goals in their last two matches. A 7-0 home win against RB Leipzig saw Erling Haaland net four goals. He netted a further hattrick in a 6-0 win against Burnley in their last match.

Man City Team News

City are expected to be without Phil Foden after he withdrew from England duty. Erling Haaland should be fit after pulling out of Norway’s fixtures with a groin problem. Pep Guardiola is expected to select his side partly based on international minutes played.

Ederson, Nathan Ake, and John Stones were all rested against Burnley and should return. Bernardo Silva is also expected to come into the XI after having a full rest in that match.

Man City Motivation

City’s motivation to win this match and to stay in the title race is very high. A draw would open the door for Arsenal to go 10 points clear (albeit having played a match more than City) and Guardiola will see a draw as being like a defeat.

Full attention will go on this match with a full week to prepare afterward for Southampton.

Liverpool Form

The Reds are in curious form. They had a dreadful run of four losses in seven as they leaked goals for fun and seemed to have totally turned the corners after that by keeping five Premier League clean sheets in a row. In between that improved league defensive form was a 5-2 home thrashing by Real Madrid as they conceded five goals in 47 minutes of football.

Two late goals sealed a 2-0 win against Wolves as they toiled hard before the floodgates opened in a 7-0 win against Man Utd at Anfield. To highlight their lack of consistency, they went to 20^th place Bournemouth after that and lost 1-0. They followed that up by losing 1-0 at Real Madrid in a pretty meagre surrender in the second leg.

Liverpool Team News

Liverpool are edging towards having winger Luis Diaz, defender Joe Gomez, and midfielder Thiago Alcantara back from injuries. It’s not expected that the former duo will start but Thiago could be fit to play in midfield.

Stefan Bajcetic won’t be seen again this season and Jurgen Klopp again has to find a balanced midfield, his biggest issue all season. Cody Gakpo should be back after a virus while Darwin Nunez has been down with a knock during this FIFA break and is touch-and-go.

Liverpool Motivation

Liverpool would probably be okay with a draw at the Etihad as it keeps them within reach of the top four.

Klopp’s side will play to win, but the recent defensive frailties could mean a slightly less proactive approach than what’s been seen in recent years against City.

Key Stats

Man City have won their last 6 matches (5 clean sheets)

Man City are unbeaten in 5 home EPL matches vs Liverpool (W3, D2)

Man City have won 16 of their last 19 home EPL matches (L1, D2)

Liverpool have lost 7 of their last 11 away matches

9 of the last 11 matches between these sides have seen Over 3.5 Goals

LFC have just 3 wins in 13 away EPL matches this season (7 losses)

Liverpool have failed to score in 4 of their last 5 away EPL matches

Verdict

This match tends to have goals but that may not be the case in an early kickoff post-FIFA break. This match sees an in-form home team vs a Reds side who are struggling on the road and aren’t scoring on their travels.