Liverpool host Manchester City in heavyweight Premier League clash at Anfield

The narrative surrounding this fixture has shifted considerably from the script of recent seasons. Once the defining battle of the Premier League title race, Sunday's meeting between Liverpool and Manchester City now carries rather different stakes—one side chasing a runners-up finish, the other scrambling to secure a top-four berth.

Yet the pulse still quickens when these two lock horns. With 12 top-flight defeats shared between them and over a third of the campaign remaining, this could yet prove a crucial encounter. It might even serve as a dress rehearsal for something bigger down the line—the FA Cup or Champions League final, perhaps.

City arrive at Anfield fresh from dismantling Newcastle in their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg, winning 3-1 to progress 5-1 on aggregate. Liverpool, meanwhile, bounced back impressively last weekend with a thrilling 4-1 victory over the Magpies after falling behind at home.

The table tells a sobering story for both. Arsenal lead the way, six points clear of City in second, while Liverpool languish in sixth, a further eight points adrift. It's a far cry from the old order.

Team News and Selection Dilemmas

Arne Slot faces a defensive headache at right-back. Conor Bradley is sidelined for an extended spell, and Jeremie Frimpong remains unavailable after limping off in midweek action against Qarabag. Joe Gomez might feature from the bench, but the most likely scenario sees midfielder Dominic Szoboszlai pressed into service at full-back. Slot is expected to stick with the XI that started the Newcastle rout.

Manchester City will assess Bernardo Silva's fitness in the lead-up to Sunday. Ruben Dias has returned to the squad after a month out, making the bench against Newcastle, while Marc Guehi—previously unavailable—returns at centre-back. John Stones is back in training but won't feature just yet. Erling Haaland, rested midweek, should resume his central role, with Omar Marmoush's brace against Newcastle underlining City's attacking depth.

The Numbers Game

Liverpool's home record against City provides some comfort. They've lost just once in their last 22 Premier League matches at Anfield against their rivals, that solitary defeat coming when they hosted City as defending champions in February 2021. City's 3-0 victory at the Etihad in November gives them the chance to complete their first league double over Liverpool since 1936-37.

Haaland's record at Anfield is particularly telling: he's failed to score in all three of his Premier League away visits here, making Anfield one of only two grounds in the competition where the Norwegian hasn't found the net—the other being Sunderland's Stadium of Light.

City's away form this season has been decidedly dodgy. They've shipped 15 goals on their travels, matching the tally of struggling Crystal Palace, and have conceded seven times across their last three road trips when accounting for European fixtures.

The Wirtz Factor

Florian Wirtz has emerged as Liverpool's most potent attacking threat in recent weeks. The German has scored in five of his last six appearances at Anfield and continues to flourish alongside Hugo Ekitike, who has hit form at precisely the right moment. Given City's leaky away defence and Wirtz's hot streak, his attacking output merits serious consideration.

Kick-off Details

The match takes place at Anfield on Sunday, February 8, kicking off at 16:30 GMT. Sky Sports Premier League will broadcast proceedings from 4pm, while BBC Radio 5 Live offers full commentary.

Expected Line-ups

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Wirtz, Salah, Gakpo; Ekitike.

Manchester City (4-1-4-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Ake, Guehi, O'Reilly; Rodri; Semenyo, Foden, Cherki, Reijnders; Haaland.