Norwegian striker missed midweek defeat in Madrid with knee injury
Manchester City vs Liverpool
Competition: F.A. Premier League
Date: 4.30pm, Sunday 23rd February 2025
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Referee: Anthony Taylor Assistants: G Beswick, L Betts Fourth Official: A Madley VAR: S Atwell
Odds: City 15/8, Draw 14/5, Liverpool 5/4
Tickets: Sold out
TV: Sky Sports
Manchester City
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Squad (from): Ortega, Ederson, Carson, Dias, Ake, Reis, Gvardiol, Khusanov, Lewis, Kovacic, Grealish, Gonzalez, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Silva, Nunes, Foden, McAtee, Marmoush, Haaland, Doku, Savinho
Injured: Rodri, Bobb, Akanji, Stones
Doubtful: Haaland
Suspended: None
Form guide: LWLWL
Liverpool
Manager: Arne Slot
Squad (from): Becker, Jaros, Kelleher, van Dijk, Konate, Tsimikas, Robertson, Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Endo, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones, Elliott, Gravenberch, Morton, Diaz, Nunez, Salah, Chiesa, Gakpo, Jota
Injured: Gomez, Bradley
Doubtful: Gakpo
Suspended: None
Form guide: DWDLW
Erling Haaland is a major doubt for the visit of Liverpool, having missed the midweek Champions League defeat in Madrid with a knee injury. John Stones is ruled out after suffering a thigh injury.
“Don’t know yet. Tomorrow we will know,” Pep Guardiola said in Friday's press conference.
“It’s better to have Erling on the pitch.
“Everybody is responsible for the good things and bad things for the team but obviously with Erling we are better.
“[Stones] is injured - a difficult one. In the next days we will know if he needs surgery or not. It’s the front, his thigh,”
Liverpool have an eight-point cushion at the top of the table, and City's boss was full of praise for the Merseysiders.
“Consistency is similar to Jurgen [Klopp]. They deserve to be up there fighting with Arsenal for the title,” said Guardiola.
“Top team in many aspects. Lost just one game in the Premier League. That’s why it is a good test for us.”
City drew their last home game against Liverpool 1-1, with a goal from Erling Haaland. Overall City have won 52 of the 198 games played against the Reds, with 52 draws and 94 defeats.
Predicted line-up: Ederson, Khusanov, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol, Gonzalez, Kovacic, De Bruyne, Foden, Savinho, Marmoush
Score prediction: Liverpool 3 City 1