Liverpool XI vs Man City: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Premier League today

Evening Standard

·23 février 2025

Liverpool XI vs Man City: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Premier League today

Arne Slot could have Cody Gakpo back for huge showdown at the Etihad Stadium

Liverpool are hoping to see Cody Gakpo return from injury in today’s massive Premier League clash with Manchester City.

Vidéos OneFootball

The Dutch forward has missed the last two games against Wolves and Aston Villa as the result of a heavy knock that forced him off in the latter stages of the chaotic Merseyside derby draw at Everton last week.

Luis Diaz filled in on the left wing against Wolves and scored the opening goal as Diogo Jota made his first league start since October through the middle, but returning midfielder Curtis Jones then surprisingly got the nod out wide in the 2-2 draw with Villa on Wednesday night.

As the Reds now look to potentially pull 11 points clear in the title race with just 11 games to go after closest rivals Arsenal’s crucial home defeat by West Ham on Saturday, Gakpo’s fitness could be important.

Speaking ahead of the trip to the Etihad Stadium, Liverpool boss Arne Slot said of his Dutch compatriot on Thursday: “Let’s see, let’s see. I hope. I am not 100 per cent sure.

“He hasn’t trained with the team yet, maybe he does a bit today, I don’t know exactly. It will be a close call.”

Conor Bradley limped off late on with a hamstring injury against Aston Villa and is expected to miss the next two games at least as he undergoes further assessment.

The defender joins Joe Gomez and Tyler Morton in the Anfield treatment room as Slot manages the minutes of Jota and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

With no available alternative without Bradley and Gomez, Alexander-Arnold is likely to keep his place in the Liverpool XI and it will be an interesting battle down his side, especially if Josko Gvardiol and Jeremy Doku both start for City.

On the opposite flank, Slot could be tempted to bring in Kostas Tsimikas for Andy Robertson to deal with Savinho as the Brazilian has been a bright spark of late and the experienced left-back has struggled against pacy and direct wingers this season.

The dilemma in attack centres around Gakpo’s fitness. Should he start then it’s a question over who leads the line. Darwin Nunez will have a point to prove after his glaring miss against Villa, but Diaz may get the nod over both the Uruguayan and Jota.

Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Diaz

Doubt: Gakpo

Time and date: 4:30pm GMT today on Sunday February 23, 2025

Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester

How to watch: Sky Sports