Man City XI vs Liverpool: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Premier League | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola could be without his captain at Anfield

Pep Guardiola is expected to be without his captain Bernardo Silva as Manchester City visit Liverpool on Sunday.

The Portuguese midfielder was a surprise omission from the City squad which knocked Newcastle out of the Carabao Cup in midweek.

Speaking post-match, Guardiola revealed Silva had picked up a back injury and was unsure whether he could feature at Anfield.

“I don’t know,” said Guardiola, asked whether Silva would be fit. “It’s another type of muscle in his back but we’ll see in the next days.

Should Guardiola be unable to call upon his captain, the advanced midfield roles will likely fall to Tijjani Reijnders and Phil Foden, the pairing trusted against the Magpies.

Bernardo Silva watched on from the bench as Man City beat Newcastle on Wednesday

Getty Images

There are question marks as to who will start on the wings with Jeremy Doku and Savinho injured. Rayan Cherki picked up a niggle against Spurs but returned off the bench against Newcastle, and may reclaim his starting berth here. So too will Antoine Semenyo, who has been in fine form since moving from Bournemouth.

Rodri was rested on Wednesday night and is expected to return as a holding midfielder in place of Nico Gonzalez.

The same is true of cup-tied centre-back Marc Guehi, who will come in to partner Ruben Dias. Mainstay full-backs Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly will assume their standard positions on the flanks.

Defenders John Stones and Josko Gvardiol are still injured, and will be sidelined for the foreseeable.

Gianluigi Donnarumma will return between the sticks after ceding his position to James Trafford midweek.

Erling Haaland got a rare rest against Newcastle, with Omar Marmoush preferred, but should slot in up top at Anfield.

Mateo Kovacic remains on the sidelines as he continues his recovery from a long-standing ankle injury.

Predicted Man City XI (4-1-4-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rodri; Semenyo, Reijnders, Foden, Cherki; Haaland

Injured: Doku, Savinho, Stones, Gvardiol, Kovacic

Doubts: Silva

Time and date: 4:30pm GMT on Sunday February 8, 2026

Venue: Anfield

How to watch: Sky Sports