Manchester City will have to lift themselves up off the canvas when they lock horns with Liverpool in the Premier League at the Etihad on Sunday afternoon.
Pep Guardiola’s side were knocked out of the Champions League in midweek with a bit of a whimper when being soundly beaten 6-3 by Real Madrid on aggregate, in a game that brought up my recommended bet.
With City no longer in Europe as well as being out of contention in the Premier League title race, their priorities for the rest of the season will be to finish in the top four and to win the FA Cup.
Next up for the Sky Blues is a mouthwatering showdown with Premier League leaders Liverpool at the Etihad on Sunday.
The Reds were held to a 2-2 draw away at Aston Villa on Wednesday, on a night where both of my suggested selections were home and hosed before half-time.
While Arne Slot’s side are now eight points clear at the top of the table, they have now dropped points in each of their last two top-flight road trips.
How the bookies view it: Reds to reign supreme, special offer on BTTS
Liverpool are 23/20 favourites with Parimatch to emerge from the Etihad victorious on Sunday afternoon.
It’s not very often Man City are 9/5 outsiders on home turf but that is the case on Sunday, while a point apiece has been priced up at 29/10 with the same firm.
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Head to head: Reds’ record robust
Liverpool – who won this season’s reverse fixture 2-0 – can draw confidence from their record in this fixture in recent years. The Reds have avoided defeat in six of the last seven Premier League meetings between the pair.
Players to watch: Salah to sink City?
After scoring one and setting up another against Aston Villa last time out, Mohamed Salah has now registered a staggering 39 goal involvements across his 26 Premier League appearances this season so far. The Liverpool talisman is 8/11 on PaddyPower for another goal or an assist on Sunday afternoon.
Omar Marmoush lit up the Etihad with a hat-trick against Newcastle last weekend. The new Man City man is 9/4 for an anytime strike on Sunday.
Predicted line-ups
Man City look set to be without John Stones, who was forced off early against Real Madrid in midweek. The England international will join Manuel Akanji, Oscar Bobb and Rodri in the City treatment room.
Cody Gakpo and Conor Bradley are both doubtful for this clash, while Joe Gomez will definitely miss out.
Man City: Ederson; Khusanov, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol; Gonzalez, Gundogan; Savinho, Silva, Marmoush; Haaland
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Jones, Diaz; Jota
Anything else catch the eye?
Given how lenient an approach referee Anthony Taylor has been taking this season, I’m prepared to propose a play on the under 45.5 booking points line here at 20/21 on Boylesports.
The aforementioned Taylor is averaging a lowly 3.27 yellow cards per-game in the Premier League this season, delivering under 45.45 booking points in 11 of his last 14 top-flight outings.
On top of all that, nine of the last 11 Premier League meetings between Man City and Liverpool have featured four match cards or fewer.
This English Premier League match between Manchester City and Liverpool will be played on Feb 23, 2025 and kick off at 16:30. Check below for our tipsters best Manchester City vs Liverpool prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
