A Battle of Champions: Liverpool vs. Man City | OneFootball

Liverpool against Manchester City rarely needs extra heat to spice it up, but even by the standards of this modern rivalry, Sunday’s meeting at Anfield carries a particular edge.

Irrespective of what Arsenal and the other title contenders did on Saturday, this fixture already feels pivotal for both managers and both teams. Neither Arne Slot nor Pep Guardiola would admit their side is underperforming, but by their own benchmarks, neither has yet hit full stride this season.

England’s El Clasico

Slot has described the contest as England’s version of El Clasico, and his words reflect how the fixture is viewed well beyond Merseyside.

“So, a very interesting game to look forward to because when I wasn’t working here and when I was in Holland I did know when City v Liverpool was or when Liverpool v City was,” Slot said. “I could tell you I was 100 per cent sure in front of my television when this game was there. Similar to the Clasico, by the way, but these are the few games everyone is looking forward to and if you are not part of it, you are looking forward to it as well.”

History suggests Anfield is still one of the most hostile environments City face. Liverpool have lost just one of their last 22 Premier League home games against Guardiola’s side, winning 14 and drawing seven. That sole defeat came in February 2021, the only time Liverpool hosted City as reigning champions.

City, however, arrive with a rare opportunity. Following their 3-0 win at the Etihad in November, they are looking to complete their first league double over Liverpool since 1936-37, which was also the last time they won consecutive league games against them.

Liverpool Battered

Team news could yet shape the contest. Joe Gomez returns to Liverpool’s matchday squad after missing the last two games with the injury sustained at Bournemouth, though Slot has tempered expectations.

“With Joe, we have a little bit of hope that he might train before (Sunday),” Slot added. “So, not available to start but maybe available to help the team if needed during the game because there are not that many defenders available at the moment.”

Jeremie Frimpong, meanwhile, will definitely miss out after being forced off with a muscle problem sustained in the Champions League win over Qarabağ.

City Not Much Better

City also have fitness questions. Bernardo Silva missed the midweek Carabao Cup win over Newcastle with a knock picked up at Tottenham and Guardiola admitted his captain remains a doubt. “Don’t know yet –  tomorrow training,” Guardiola said on Friday.

There was better news elsewhere. Ruben Días returned to the bench against Newcastle after a month out with a hamstring injury, while John Stones has taken a significant step towards a comeback.

“He’s back,” Guardiola said of Dias. “We’ll see if he will play minutes, but good news for us. John made his first training session with the team and is step by step coming back.”

City Keen to Build on Momentum

City travel to Merseyside trailing leaders Arsenal by nine points , but fresh from booking their place in another Carabao Cup final with a 3-1 win over Newcastle. It was an impressive response to a frustrating 2-2 draw at Tottenham last weekend and kept Guardiola’s side alive on four fronts.

Yet this visit to Anfield represents a different kind of test. City have not won there since February 2021, and failure to do so again would deepen the sense that their title defence may already be slipping away.

Guardiola insists this is precisely the sort of stage his players must embrace.

“All big stages and big games always need big personalities,” he said. “It’s not about the skills of the players. In the top clubs, the skills are there. It’s how you behave in the big stadiums and in the latter stages of competitions that define the good players and the good teams.”

City may still be chasing trophies on multiple fronts, but Guardiola is candid about where his team stands.

“Not yet. At top, top level, high, high level? No,” he said. “We have moments, real moments, but not enough consistency. Still, we are there. Fourteen games in the Premier League is an eternity and everything can happen.”

On Sunday, everything may feel like it is happening at once. For Liverpool, it is a chance to reassert Anfield’s authority under a new manager. For City, it could be the difference between keeping the title race alive and watching it drift out of reach.