Manchester City vs Liverpool – Premier League: TV channel, team news, lineups & prediction

The Premier League returns at the weekend following the international fixture with a cracking fixture between Manchester City and Liverpool at Saturday lunchtime.

Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have enjoyed title battles over the years but City are playing catch-up to leaders Arsenal and the Reds are seven points off fourth place in sixth with two games in hand.

Both sides will be hopeful of laying down a marker as the run-in to the end of the season approaches.

Here’s what you need to know about this one.

Current Premier League Form (Last Five Games)

Manchester City team news

Erling Haaland had to pull out of Norway’s squad during the international break and his availability has been described as ‘touch and go’ by father Alfie.

Phil Foden had his appendix removed and dropped out of the England squad as a result. He’ll be out until May, but otherwise Guardiola has plenty of options to choose from in his squad.

Manchester City predicted lineup (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Dias, Ake; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan; Bernardo Silva, Haaland, Grealish.

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Liverpool team news

Luis Diaz recently returned to training for Liverpool, having missed around five months of action with a knee injury. The Colombia international may be able to feature on the bench here, but the game will come too soon for Thiago Alcantara.

Stefan Bajcetic is out for the rest of the season and Darwin Nunez and Kostas Tsimikas will need to be assessed.

Liverpool predicted lineup (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Elliott, Fabinho, Henderson; Salah, Gakpo, Nunez.

The international break has been known to take momentum away from teams at this stage of the season, but City can afford no further slip-ups if they are to overhaul Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.

While games between City and Liverpool have turned out to be thrillers, the lack of balance on the Reds’ side will count against them, especially with City looking so much stronger in central midfield on paper.

City’s defence is hardly infallible and Liverpool could get some joy if the likes of Nunez and Salah can combine efficiently on the counter, but the hosts are strong favourites to take all three points.

Prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool