Predicted Starting Line-Up: Liverpool vs Manchester City (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City’s visit to Anfield on Sunday to face Liverpool carries significant historical edge and strategic weight in terms of their title credentials.

This meeting arrives at a delicate moment for Pep Guardiola’s side, with City navigating injuries, form fluctuation, and selection uncertainty while attempting to be in touching distance of Arsenal at the top of the table.

Manchester City arrive on Merseyside fresh from knocking Newcastle United out of the Carabao Cup, a result that restored some authority after an inconsistent run in the league. However, that midweek tie also raised new questions, none more significant than the absence of club captain Bernardo Silva.

Guardiola confirmed post-match that Silva is dealing with a back issue, describing him as an “incredible doubt” for Sunday. The manager’s tone suggested caution rather than optimism.

In his press conference ahead of the Liverpool fixture, Guardiola suggested that Silva’s availability will be assessed in Saturday’s training session.

In defence, City’s options remain constrained. Josko Gvardiol is unavailable, while John Stones has only just returned to full training. Ruben Dias is back in contention, but this game may arrive too soon after his injury lay-off, especially given the intensity of Liverpool’s front line.

In the wide positions, injuries have narrowed Guardiola’s options. Jeremy Doku and Savinho are both sidelined, removing two natural touchline threats.

Here is how we think Manchester City will line up for this colossal fixture against Liverpool at Anfield!

Predicted XI

Gianluigi Donnarumma is expected to return between the posts after James Trafford deputised in midweek. Guardiola’s preference in league fixtures remains clear and Donnarumma’s experience in hostile environments will be vital at Anfield, particularly with his elite shot-stopping skills.

At right full-back, Matheus Nunes is expected to continue. Nunes’ athleticism and recovery speed are particularly valuable against Liverpool’s left-sided threat.

Marc Guehi is expected to come in alongside Abdukodir Khusanov at centre-back. Calm in possession, assertive in duels, and positionally intelligent, the centre backs will be tasked with managing the space behind City’s full-backs, especially dealing with Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike during transitions.

Liverpool’s long-standing interest in Guehi adds a subplot but from City’s perspective, this is about stability rather than symbolism.

Nico O’Reilly is expected to play in the left full-back position. O’Reilly’s positional discipline will help City maintain their preferred rest-defence structure while adding an additional option in the midfield when they have the ball.

Rodri is expected to return to the starting XI after being rested in midweek. His availability is a major boost. In matches of this magnitude, City’s ability to control central zones often hinges on Rodri’s positional awareness and resistance under pressure.

His role will be to anchor transitions, disrupt Liverpool’s counterattacks early, and provide the platform for City’s advanced midfielders to operate.

With Bernardo Silva’s participation in doubt, Guardiola is expected to trust the pairing of Tijjani Reijnders and Phil Foden in the advanced midfield roles.

Reijnders was highly effective against Newcastle, offering a blend of vertical running, ball progression, and intelligent positioning between the lines. Reijnders’ capacity to arrive late into attacking zones without compromising defensive shape has become increasingly valuable.

Foden’s movement and decision-making in tight spaces might dictate City’s attacking rhythm at Anfield. The injuries to Savinho and Doku have increased the focus on Antoine Semenyo, who is likely to start. Semenyo’s form since arriving from Bournemouth has been encouraging.

His directness, physicality and willingness to attack defenders one-on-one offer City a more vertical threat, particularly important against a Liverpool side that defends aggressively in advanced areas.

Meanwhile, Rayan Cherki picked up a minor niggle against Tottenham but returned from the bench against Newcastle, suggesting fitness is not a major concern. His creativity between the lines and ability to operate in half-spaces could be decisive in breaking Liverpool’s midfield press, especially when City look to play through rather than around.

Erling Haaland will return to lead the line after being rested midweek, with Omar Marmoush preferred against Newcastle. This is the kind of fixture built for Haaland’s profile.

His physical battle with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté is one of the Premier League’s defining matchups, and City’s attacking structure will be designed to isolate him against Liverpool’s centre-backs as often as possible.

Haaland’s presence also shapes Liverpool’s defensive line, often forcing them to defend deeper than they would prefer. That, in turn, creates space for Foden, Reijnders and Cherki to operate between the lines.

City’s approach at Anfield is likely to be pragmatic. Guardiola will prioritise compactness without the ball, controlled build-up under pressure and patience in attacking phases. With Liverpool thriving on chaos and transition, City’s spacing and decision-making in midfield will be critical.

Starting XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rodri; Reijnders, Foden; Cherki, Haaland, Semenyo.

Substitutes: Trafford, Lewis, Ake, Dias, Alleyne, Ait-Nouri, Nico, Bernardo, Marmoush.