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The Premier League weekend's marquee fixture brings together a star-studded showdown between two of England's giants: Liverpool and Manchester City.
After a three-week international break, Sunday's mouth-watering encounter at Anfield arrives as a welcome return to action—even if much of the conversation surrounding the game revolves around Man City's guilty verdict for breaching the Premier League's financial rules on a widespread scale.
Many of the league's finest talents will grace the pitch on Merseyside, with both clubs fielding expensively-constructed squads packed with world-class performers.
With that in mind, here's what a combined XI of available Liverpool and City players would look like.
Liverpool vs. Man City Combined XI
GK: Alisson
Liverpool and City both enjoy the privilege of outstanding first-choice goalkeepers, and the contest between Alisson and Gianluigi Donnarumma is far from straightforward. Two exceptional shot-stoppers who each carry the occasional mistake in their game, they rank among the planet's finest in their position.
However, when fit, Alisson narrowly wins this particular battle thanks to his more dependable performances between Liverpool's posts. The Brazilian is superior with the ball at his feet and an unrivaled expert in one-on-one situations.
RB: Matheus Nunes
Ronald Araújo has made an impressive start to his loan stint at Anfield in a converted right-back role, but the consistency and caliber of Matheus Nunes still takes precedence. The Portuguese defender remains a vastly underrated talent.
Nunes possesses an incredibly well-rounded game. Armed with boundless energy, tremendous physicality, and sharp defensive awareness for a former box-to-box midfielder, he's one of the most dependable fullbacks in the Premier League.
CB: Rúben Dias
There are some outstanding center backs patrolling Liverpool and City's defensive lines, but few combine power, composure, and leadership quite like Rúben Dias. While perhaps not quite as dominant as during his early years at the Etihad Stadium, he remains a commanding force.
The 29-year-old may lack blistering recovery pace or a natural eye for goal, but his defensive positioning and deep understanding of his responsibilities make him remarkably consistent. Dias rarely makes a costly error for the Citizens.
CB: Virgil van Dijk
Marc Guéhi and the promising Jérémy Jacquet are both talented defenders, but Virgil van Dijk remains the finest center back of the last decade—even if, like Dias, he's not quite as dominant or faultless as he was in his prime.
Van Dijk's standing took a slight hit after being required to cover for Ibrahima Konaté for extended periods last season, but Jacquet's arrival has given Liverpool's captain the freedom to flourish once more.
And he's always capable of delivering a crucial goal from a set piece.
LB: Joško Gvardiol
City could arguably field three left backs superior to Liverpool's Milos Kerkez. Nico O'Reilly and Rayan Aït-Nouri are solid choices for Enzo Maresca, but it's the naturally imposing Joško Gvardiol who has been handed the role by the Italian manager early in his tenure.
The Croatian international carries the build and physicality of a center half—a position he's occupied regularly throughout his career—yet possesses the elegance and technical quality to consistently contribute goals and assists when surging forward down the flank.
CM: Elliot Anderson
When Elliot Anderson was offloaded to Nottingham Forest to help Newcastle United meet the Premier League's financial requirements, few could have imagined he would carry a valuation of $153 million just two years down the line. Yet, that's exactly where things stand.
The Englishman's rise has been nothing short of remarkable, with his status as a guaranteed starter for City and England thoroughly deserved. The tenacious midfielder is capable of functioning as both a No. 6 and No. 8 thanks to his tireless engine and unmatched work rate.
CM: Dominik Szoboszlai
The Argentine pairing of Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández are both elite-level midfielders, as is Ryan Gravenberch. But Dominik Szoboszlai's dynamic, high-energy displays make him the ideal partner for Anderson in a combined lineup.
The Hungarian typically excels when positioned closer to the opposition's goal, but his outings at right back have highlighted his defensive solidity. Few Liverpool players since Steven Gerrard have struck a ball with such purity—or been such a reliable source of spectacular goals.
RW: Antoine Semenyo
Antoine Semenyo should be fit to face Liverpool despite pulling out of international duty early with a swollen leg. The Ghanaian attacker has been spotted in training ahead of the fixture and is expected to feature on City's left wing.
However, given his adaptability, Semenyo can comfortably operate on the right side as well. He frequently terrorized Premier League defenses from that flank for Bournemouth and City last season—wrapping up the campaign with 22 goals across all competitions.
AM: Rayan Cherki
With Florian Wirtz continuing to underwhelm for the Reds—particularly given his enormous price tag—Rayan Cherki stands as the clear choice in the No. 10 role. He produced a sensational debut season with City and has continued to grow from strength to strength.
The young Frenchman's creativity and flair make him one of football's most thrilling players to watch. Capable of producing a moment of brilliance at any given moment, it's no surprise he racked up 26 goal involvements for City during his first campaign.
LW: Bradley Barcola
While Bradley Barcola is yet to register a goal or assist for Liverpool, his brilliance at Paris Saint-Germain cannot be overlooked. Having contributed 60 goal involvements for the European champions across the previous two seasons, it's little wonder the Reds were prepared to spend $166 million to secure his signature.
The France international will surely burst into form at Anfield before long, tormenting opposition right backs with his electrifying pace and nimble footwork. On his best days, he's virtually unstoppable—just ask defenders in Ligue 1.
ST: Erling Haaland
Alexander Isak will be absent from Sunday's clash through injury, but even the Swede's impressive recent form falls short of Erling Haaland's level. The City striker is the division's most lethal finisher by a considerable margin and netted five times across his three meetings with Liverpool last season.
The Norwegian claimed the Premier League's Golden Boot in 2025–26 and has already bagged seven goals in as many appearances for City across all competitions this term. Even Van Dijk regularly struggles to contain Haaland, who is simply an extraordinary center forward.