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Manchester City vs Liverpool: Premier League Showdown

With the most recent international window of games now drawn to a close, Liverpool fans can once more look forward to the resumption of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign. It will be another four months until more international football must be endured, a welcome development for many football enthusiasts. Despite both the Reds and Manchester City being flooded with high-profile stars on tour this past fortnight, the 12.30 kick-off is once again a reality, despite the embarrassing number of times that Jürgen Klopp’s men have been allocated that lunchtime slot. Game week thirteen features a clash between the division’s two strongest teams, as the current table sees them separated by just one point.

Manchester City Team Availability

In terms of availability, Kevin De Bruyne, Mateo Kovacic, Sergio Gomez, John Stones, and Matheus Nunes, are all ruled out for Pep Guardiola. Nathan Ake, Ederson Moraes, and Erling Haaland, are all expected to be fit for selection. City is in a solid enough form in the lead-up to this game, both domestically and in Europe. A marvellous 4-4 draw was recorded away to Chelsea, after a 6-1 rout at home to Bournemouth. Prior to that game, a visit to Old Trafford ended in a comprehensive 0-3 victory over their Manchester rivals.

The predicted lineup for the home team is as follows:

  • GK – Ederson Moraes
  • RB – Kyle Walker
  • RCB – Manuel Akanji
  • LCB – Rúben Dias
  • LB – Joško Gvardiol
  • RCM – Phil Foden
  • CDM – Rodri
  • LCM – Bernardo Silva
  • RW – Jérémy Doku
  • CF – Erling Haaland
  • LW – Jack Grealish

In a 4-3-3 (hybrid) system, the home side will be looking to dominate and wear down the visitors. A table-topping start to the season is currently in effect, with 28 points taken from their twelve games played. There may be some uncertainty in the Etihad changing room right now, given the media circus now continually reporting on their 115 charges and the punishment that will be forthcoming. It could make for some interesting discussions and may well see the reigning champions take their eye off the ball.

Liverpool Team Availability

The second-placed Reds will be quite pleased with 27 points garnered from their own twelve games played, with the chance to move top of the Premier League, though only if they were to beat their most recent adversaries. The lead-up to this game saw an impressive 3-0 win over Brentford unfold at Anfield, after a disappointing 1-1 draw at Luton, following a solid 3-0 at home to Nottingham Forest. European matches have been mixed, but qualification for the knockout stage is certain.

In terms of those available, the Spanish pair of Thiago Alcântara and Stefan Bajčetić remain sidelined until late January, which is the timeline set out for Andy Robertson also. Ibrahima Konate, Ryan Gravenberch, and Curtis Jones, are all likely to be declared fit for the short trip this Saturday. The returning South American players will be assessed on Friday, potentially delaying Luis Díaz’s comeback.

  • GK – Alisson Becker
  • RB – Trent Alexander Arnold
  • RCB – Ibrahima Konaté
  • LCB – Virgil van Dijk
  • LB – Kostas Tsimikas
  • RCM – Dominik Szoboszlai
  • CDM – Alexis Mac Allister
  • LCM – Curtis Jones
  • RF – Mohamed Salah
  • CF – Darwin Núñez
  • LF – Diogo Jota

Liverpool’s German manager is taking a bit of a gamble in a 4-3-3 (hybrid) system, potentially surprising many by starting Joe Gomez at right back and moving his vice-captain, Trent Alexander Arnold, into one of the midfield positions.

Predicting the Game’s Outcome

The controversial 12.30 contest could cause some mistakes, essentially as most of both starting sides will have been travelling all over the world for their respective nations. Quality and the will to win will figure heavily, which means that if Liverpool want to secure any points from this game, then they will need to be at the top of their game.

Player to Watch – Darwin Núñez

Score Prediction:

Manchester City 2 – 2 Liverpool

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