The stage is set for the biggest Premier League match of the weekend as Manchester City host Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday evening after the midweek UEFA Champions League second-leg playoff fixtures.
The kick-off time for the match is 5:30 PM, and it will be the last Premier League game of the day.
Man City head into the game after winning their last Premier League match 4-0 against Newcastle United last weekend, while Liverpool played a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa in midweek.
The last time both teams met was in the Premier League in December 2024.
The Reds defeated the Cityzens 2-0 at Anfield, thanks to goals from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah.
Liverpool will hope to complete a league double against the Premier League champions, having won the reverse fixture three months ago.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot is waiting on the fitness of forward Cody Gakpo ahead of the encounter at the Etihad.
Gakpo has been absent from Liverpool’s last two games after picking up a knock in the Merseyside derby against Everton.
Speaking on Gakpo’s availability, Slot said during his pre-match press conference: “I hope [he’s available], but I’m not 100 per cent sure. He hasn’t trained with the team yet.”
Slot will be without Conor Bradley against Man City following his withdrawal in the second half at Aston Villa in midweek.
“I would be completely surprised if he’s involved in the Sunday game or the Wednesday game against Newcastle. You can assume that’s not going to happen,” Slot said of Bradley.
Liverpool’s Joe Gomez is definitely ruled out for the game, having undergone surgery to fix a hamstring injury.
“He’s out for a long time,” Slot said of Gomez.
Meanwhile, Man City manager Pep Guardiola is unsure whether his star striker Erling Haaland will take part in the Liverpool clash.
Haaland was an unused substitute in Man City’s Champions League second-leg playoff defeat to Real Madrid on Wednesday night.
Speaking to reporters on Friday at his pre-match press conference, Guardiola said of Haaland when asked about the player’s availability for Sunday’s clash: “[I] don’t know yet. Tomorrow we will know. I don’t know yet.”
Guardiola will not be able to call upon defenders Manuel Akanji and John Stones, with the latter picking up a muscle problem against Madrid.
“He’s injured. [It’s] a difficult one,” Guardiola said of Stones.
Man City currently sit in fourth place in the Premier League table, behind Liverpool, Arsenal, and Nottingham Forest.
Liverpool, on the other hand, will hope to build on their last game against Aston Villa when they visit Man City.
Slot’s side currently top the Premier League table with 61 points after 26 games.
A win for Liverpool against City will see their manager Slot complete a league double over Guardiola’s side.
Guardiola, meanwhile, will aim to beat Liverpool at home this evening to consolidate their place in the top four after crashing out of the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid in midweek.
