Guardiola "won't take a risk" with Spanish midielder's fitness
Manchester City vs Liverpool
Competition: F.A. Premier League
Date: 4.30pm, Sunday 9th November 2025
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Referee: Chris Kavanagh Assistants: D Cook, S Burt Fourth Official: S Barrott VAR: M Oliver
Odds: City 10/11, Draw 3/1, Liverpool 13/5
Tickets: Sold out
TV: Sky Sports
Manchester City
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Squad (from): Donnarumma, Trafford, Bettinelli, Dias, Stones, Ake, Ait-Nouri, Gvardiol, Khusanov, Lewis, Reijnders, Cherki, Gonzalez, Rodri, Silva, Nunes, O'Reilly, Foden, Bobb, Marmoush, Haaland, Doku, Savinho
Injured: Kovacic
Doubtful: Rodri
Suspended: None
Form guide: WWWLW
Liverpool
Manager: Arne Slot
Squad (from): Mamardashvili, Woodman, Pesci, Gomez, van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez, Bradley, Robertson, Endo, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones, Gravenberch, Isak, Salah, Chiesa, Gakpo, Ekitike
Injured: Alisson, Leoni, Frimpong
Doubtful: Isak
Suspended: None
Form guide: WWLLW
Rodri is unlikely to be fit for the visit of Liverpool, and joins Mateo Kovacic on the sidelines.
“We will see tomorrow,” Pep Guardiola said at Friday's press conference.
“I think we won’t take a risk ahead of the international break. We have to find the moment he feels strong and fit to sustain the actions in the game properly.
“Still we are in November, and the best of the season is ahead of us and we need him.”
The game is Guardiola's 1000th match in charge as a manager, and he says Liverpool are the perfect opponents for the milestone fixture
“If I have to choose one rival to do this, I will share it with many people, but this will be the best.
“I have been here longer than ever in this country, the impact it’s had on my life. Barcelona is my club and Bayern was incredible as well but Liverpool have been the biggest rival in this country and especially Jurgen [Klopp], it could not be better. The destiny and universe has decided for this.
“We have to be our best. I know how quickly everything goes here. One week ago, Liverpool, six defeats, was a disaster, won two but now they come back to their best.”
City lost their last home game against Liverpool 2-0, with Mo Salah and Dominic Szoboszlai netting for the visitors. Overall City have won 52 of the 199 games played against Liverpool, with 52 draws and 95 defeats.
Predicted line-up: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly, Gonzalez, Rjeinders, Foden, Cherki, Doku, Haaland
Score prediction: City 2 Liverpool 2