Manchester City vs Liverpool (Premier League): Match Preview, Team News, Head to Head, How To Watch | OneFootball

A match that needs no introduction and a true clash of titans as early Premier League title hopes rest in the balance as Manchester City host Liverpool.

City come into the weekend off the back of a week that has left fans with a new feeling of hope and rivals with a reason to be fearful. The last time we saw the Blues in Premier League action, a second-placed Bournemouth side were dismantled having previously gone unbeaten in eight games. An Erling Haaland brace coupled with a goal from Nico O’Reilly was enough to see City past the Cherries in a 3-1 win.

On Wednesday night, UEFA Champions League action resumed as Borussia Dortmund ventured to the Etihad Stadium, where the hosts would go on to beat them 4-1 in a game that sent out a clear message: Pep Guardiola’s men are back.

Phil Foden led the charge has he scored two near-identical efforts from just outside the box both assisted by Tijjani Reijnders – who now has more assists this season than in his two campaigns in Italy. Erling Haaland and the sensational Rayan Cherki also chipped in with goals in what was arguably City’s finest attacking performance this season.

Pep Guardiola must now turn his attention back to the Premier League as his side prepare to host Manchester City’s long-time title rivals, Liverpool.

Arne Slot’s squad have won their last two games – some course correction after losing six from their previous seven. In their midweek fixture, the Reds snuck past La Liga giants Real Madrid in a 1-0 home victory, having previously beaten a tricky Aston Villa side 2-0. While three wins from nine might not seem all that impressive, write Liverpool off at your own peril.

With only a point separating the two sides and three points desperately needed to remain within touching distance of league leaders Arsenal, all signs point towards a classic. Here is everything you need to know as Manchester City take on Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium!

Match Details

Manchester City against Liverpool will commence at 16:30 (UK) on Sunday 9 November at the Etihad Stadium.

Match Officials

Chris Kavanagh has been appointed to referee this Sunday’s game, having last officiated a Manchester City match in a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

The full list of match officials can be found below!

Team News

Rodri is once again set to miss out on the action as he continues to manage complete recovery from a recent hamstring injury. Speaking to the media on Friday afternoon, Pep Guardiola said, “We’ll see tomorrow [Saturday], but I think we’ll not take the risk.”

Mateo Kovacic is also sidelined after medical tests reportedly revealed ‘calcification’ on his heel. The Croatian international midfielder is set to be sidelined for around four months, according to reports in his home nation, as he prepares to undergo surgery on the issue.

For Liverpool, all of Alisson Becker, Jeremie Frimpong, and Giovanni Leoni will be ruled out of contention as they continue to deal with injuries. Alexander Isak could be in line to make a return, with Arne Slot revealing the ex-Newcastle striker is back in training.

Pep Guardiola’s Press Conference Quotes

“Listen, if I have to choose one rival to [share] this milestone [of 1,000 matches in management] – personally, because I would want to share it with many, many people obviously – this would be the best [Liverpool]… Especially with Jurgen [Klopp], have been the biggest rival in this country. It could not be better, to be honest. The destiny of the universe has decided for this!”

“I think we pushed Liverpool to be better, and Liverpool pushed us to be better. That’s for sure!”

“We are in early November, and in early November nobody wins the title. You can lose it, but nobody wins the title.”

“Always I had the feeling how much we respect each other. I don’t know about the clubs, but in terms of Jurgen [Klopp’s] side or Pep’s side, we respected a lot each other. And I have the feeling that Jurgen gave me a lot, and I miss him, in the sense of, ‘Wow to beat that guy how much I have to think, and work, and do it, and make it better’. And that belongs to Liverpool and ourselves.”

Rodri is unlikely to be risked against Liverpool this weekend, says Pep Guardiola.

Pep: “We’ll see tomorrow, but I think we’ll not take a risk. Now it’s the international break and you have to make the moment, ‘Yeah I feel strong, feel fit’, and can sustain the actions in the game that are so demanding, properly.

“We have to make that step, because still we’re in November – the best part of the season is ahead of us and we need him! Still we’re playing without the Ballon d’Or of two seasons ago, a massively important player. We’re desperate to have him back, knowing Nico right now is becoming a really, really important, good player.”

Head To Head

Pep Guardiola has faced Liverpool in 24 games as Manchester City manager, claiming 1.17 points per game on average. The Blues have won seven, drawn seven, and lost 10 games against Liverpool during the Catalan manager’s tenure.

Liverpool walked away with all three points in both meetings last season, winning each 2-0. Manchester City have not managed a win in this fixture since their 4-1 win in April 2023. Only against Manchester United in 2020 has Pep Guardiola seen his sides go three games without a goal in all competitions.

Goals are all but guaranteed with both teams averaging just under two goals a game against each other since Pep Guardiola took the helm at Manchester City.

Statistics

Manchester City have won 10 of their last 12 Premier League games against reigning champions (D1 L1), most recently a 4-1 victory against Liverpool at Anfield in February 2021.

Since the start of April, Manchester City have won the most points in the Premier League (42), winning 13 of 19 games (D3 L3), while they have won nine of their 10 at the Etihad Stadium in that time (L1).

Liverpool put an end to their four game losing run in the Premier League by beating Aston Villa 2-0. However, the Reds have lost their last three away from home and have not lost four on the bounce on their travels since April 2012 under Kenny Dalglish.

Manchester City are the only team yet to score a Premier League goal via a set piece this season, with all 20 of their goals coming from open play. They are the first side in Premier League history to score as many as 20 goals in their first 10 games of a season without any of them being from a set piece.

Going into MD11, two of the five players to have created 20+ chances in the Premier League this season are Manchester City duo Phil Foden and Jérémy Doku (both 20). It is both Doku’s (3.3) and Foden’s (2.9) best seasons for chance creation per 90 minutes in the competition (min. 250 mins played).

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has netted 98 goals in 107 Premier League appearances – if he scores a brace in this game he will become the fastest player to 100 goals in Premier League history, with Alan Shearer the current quickest to 100 in 124 games.

Mohamed Salah went level with Wayne Rooney at Manchester United (183 goals, 93 assists) for goals and assists combined for a single Premier League club with his goal for Liverpool against Aston Villa on MD10 (188 goals, 88 assists). Salah has nine goals and six assists against City in the competition – the most goal involvements against City in Premier League history.

How To Watch

Viewers in the United Kingdom will be able to watch the match on Sky Sports. Radio coverage will be available on BBC Radio 5 live.

Viewers in the United States will be able to watch live on NBC.

A full list of global TV listings can be found here!

City Xtra will have full live coverage available on X, Facebook and Instagram throughout the matchday, with content also on cityxtra.co.uk!