Portuguese Stars Poised to Spark Man City's Battle Against Liverpool in Crucial Clash
Manchester City host defending champions Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium this Sunday afternoon in the Premier League's marquee weekend fixture.
The Citizens enter this crucial encounter between titans in excellent form, having secured six victories from their previous seven matches across all competitions, with their commanding 4–1 victory over Borussia Dortmund in midweek demonstrating their growing confidence. They're gradually rediscovering the polished, dominant version of City that has been a hallmark of the Pep Guardiola tenure.
Nevertheless, overconfidence could prove disastrous against a rejuvenated Liverpool side, who arrive following an emphatic triumph over European royalty Real Madrid. The Merseysiders, desperately holding onto their championship aspirations, will present a formidable challenge.
Here's how City might set up for this crucial encounter as they pursue league leaders Arsenal.
Man City Predicted Lineup vs. Liverpool (4-1-4-1)
GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma—Donnarumma committed his first significant error in a City shirt when his feeble punch allowed Bournemouth to score in last weekend's encounter. He bounced back impressively midweek and must maintain that standard against Liverpool.
RB: Matheus Nunes—Nunes has been given responsibility for Pep Guardiola's right-back role, with the Portuguese player facing a substantial test against either Florian Wirtz or Cody Gakpo this Sunday.
CB: Rúben Dias—Guardiola brought Dias off the bench midweek to help stabilize matters after Dortmund scored late, with the defender's composed influence needed against Hugo Ekitiké and his teammates.
CB: Joško Gvardiol—Gvardiol is expected to maintain his center-back position alongside Dias, with the Croatian international helping neutralize Ekitiké's pace when the French striker makes runs behind City's backline.
LB: Nico O'Reilly—O'Reilly has offered significant offensive contributions in recent fixtures, including finding the net against Bournemouth, but his defensive duties against Mohamed Salah will take priority on Sunday.
DM: Nico González—Guardiola has essentially confirmed Rodri's unavailability for this match, meaning González will once again serve as City's midfield anchor. His outstanding performance against BVB sets the benchmark for Sunday afternoon.
RM: Bernardo Silva—Silva was limited to substitute appearances midweek and should be well-rested for Liverpool's arrival. The tireless midfielder may start wide but will cover extensive ground throughout the match.
CM: Tijjani Reijnders—Reijnders returned to peak form against Dortmund, contributing two assists while displaying his exceptional ball control. City need such technical ability for Sunday's midfield duel.
CM: Phil Foden—The England star netted two spectacular goals on Wednesday evening and is recapturing the outstanding form he displayed during 2023–24. The creative midfielder hasn't found the net against Liverpool since 2021, though.
LM: Jérémy Doku—Conor Bradley successfully contained Vinícius Júnior midweek and now faces the equally rapid Doku. The Belgian winger, who impressed against Dortmund, will create numerous problems with his speed.
ST: Erling Haaland—Twenty-seven goals across club and international duty this campaign. Simply extraordinary. He's managed just three strikes in eight encounters with Liverpool, however, which falls short of his exceptional standards.
