Manchester City vs Liverpool news: Title rivals to serve up Sunday best in huge Premier League clash

Kevin de Bruyne Man City Jan22

Liverpool travel to take on champions and league leaders Manchester City on Sunday knowing victory will take them above their title rivals for the first time since October.

The Reds make the short trip to the Etihad Stadium off the back of a comfortable 3-1 quarter-final win at Benfica in the Champions League - a game which manager Jurgen Klopp felt they should have won more comfortably - while hosts City made it three straight wins in all competitions with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid.

Pep Guardiola's men have only lost once this calendar year at home and Liverpool will be bidding to make it five straight away wins in what has the hallmarks of a title decider.

The two heavyweights have dominated the Premier League over the last four seasons, with City crowned champions three times and Liverpool lifting the title in 2020.

When: Sunday 10 April, 2022 (16:30 BST)

Where: Etihad Stadium

How to watch: Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event

Follow this game via our score centre

Who is the referee for Manchester City vs Liverpool

Anthony Taylor will take charge of this huge clash between the two title protagonists - but his appointment has been met with anger from some sections of Liverpool supporters.

Taylor is from Wythenshawe in Manchester and will be under close scrutiny from Liverpool's fanbase when the two sides meet on Sunday.

His last red card was shown to Mohammed Salisu after 39 minutes of Southampton's 1-1 draw with Tottenham back on December 28.

Games refereed by Anthony Taylor in 2021-22

Games (37), yellow cards (144), red cards (6)

Recent form

Manchester City have only lost one of their last 12 home meetings with Liverpool in the Premier League (W7 D4) - their last defeat against Jurgen Klopp's men was a shock 4-1 drubbing back in November 2015 - and they have won eight of their last nine matches at home in the league.

A 3-2 defeat by Tottenham on February 19 is their only recent slip up at the Etihad Stadium and only their second home defeat all season.

Next up... ⏳#MCILIV pic.twitter.com/5b3t2YVtZa
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 7, 2022

Liverpool have put together an astonishing 10-match win streak - keeping eight clean sheets - to assert huge pressure on the champions. While City have only lost twice at home this saeson, Liverpool have only lost twice on the road.

Recent players in form

Manchester City's Phil Foden has scored in each of his last three Premier League matches against Liverpool and has netted seven goals in 19 starts in the league this season.

A clinical @PhilFoden strike against Liverpool from earlier this season! ?#ManCity pic.twitter.com/av9zUsEzdD
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 7, 2022

Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling are both into double figures in the league and are joined by in-form Belgium playmaker Kevin de Bruyne, who has scored five goals in his last four appearances in all competitions.

Portugal international Diogo Jota has found a crucial run of goalscoring form for Liverpool at this business end of the season.

His tally of 14 so far this season leaves him just six behind Liverpool's current top goalscorer Mohamed Salah.

The 25-year-old has scored four goals in his last six appearances in all competitions and opened the scoring last time out in the Premier League as Liverpool secured a 2-0 win over Watford to move to within one point of City at the top of the table.

Past meetings

The two sides last met on October 3 at Anfield with City twice coming from behind to salvage a 2-2 draw courtesy of a Kevin de Bruyne equaliser on 81 minutes.

Phil Foden had earlier cancelled out Sadio Mane's opener before Mohamed Salah scored an incredible solo goal to restore Liverpool's lead.

The see-saw nature of this breathless fixture reflected the quality of both sides and, six months on, they meet again with only one point separating them in what is shaping up to be a titanic end to the title race.

Managers' thoughts

"What is sure is that Liverpool and City in the last years, we have raised the bar, we have raised the targets the Premier League had before," Pep Guardiola told reporters, ahead of Sunday's showdown at the Etihad Stadium.

"We have pushed each other a lot and I think the other teams have realised they have to push more to chase us.

.@PepTeam previews our top of the table clash with Liverpool! ?#ManCity pic.twitter.com/DYyKBoNkiS
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 7, 2022

"In the last five years, one year we were a little bit out, last season they had injuries and Manchester United were there, but both teams in the last five years, we were there fighting between each other."

"I couldn't respect it more what they are doing. I like watching them. I cannot say I love a lot of opponents, or competitors, but I really like watching City," Jurgen Klopp told reporters, when asked about the challenge facing Liverpool on Sunday.

"So, always when we play them, the analysis is a mix of serious work and real joy… it's fantastic football.

"It's, like, the next level: where can you go with the football team? They set it up in a special way. They make it really difficult. They make the pitch big in moments. They make the pitch small in the right moments.

"They have sensational individuals and all these kinds of things. That's the truth. I cannot hide that. But the good thing is we are not too bad as well. So that helps, obviously, to keep us in a good distance at least."

Predicted teams

Kyle Walker returns from his Champions League suspension, while Jack Grealish and Raheem Sterling will play either side of Phil Foden in a three-pronged attack packed with pace and movement.

Kevin de Bruyne and Rodri look certain to start, meaning Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan will have to fight it out for a final place in City's three-man engine room.

Manchester City (4-3-3): Ederson (GK) - Cancelo, Laporte, Stones, Walker - Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne - Grealish, Foden, Sterling.

Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah both came off in midweek against Benfica and both look to be struggling with heavy legs and tired minds as the air miles mount up for club and country.

Joel Matip is likely to replace Ibrahima Konate in defence and Jordan Henderson could come back in for Naby Keita, who played 89 minutes in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson (GK) - Robertson, Van Dijk, Matip, Alexander-Arnold - Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago - Mane, Jota, Salah.

Manchester City vs Liverpool prediction

A devilishly difficult fixture to call given the fractions between these two powerhouses ahead of arguably one of the most important fixtures in recent Premier League history.

Liverpool have picked the perfect moment to finish the domestic season like a train, closing City's lead from 14 points to just one - taking 31 points from a possible 36, while City have taken only two points fewer across the same period.

The draw looks a major player but Liverpool's hot streak makes them appealing.

Kevin de Bruyne looks to be back to his influential best and will be instrumental in City repelling the challenge of their nearest rivals in what could be a blockbuster.