Predicted Starting Line-Up: Manchester City vs Liverpool (Premier League) | OneFootball

After defeat in the Champions League during the week, Manchester City turn their attentions to a Premier League showdown with league leaders Liverpool on Sunday.

Arne Slot’s side will travel to Manchester this weekend off the back of just one win in their last four matches in all competitions, but they will be welcomed by a Manchester City side still reeling from a 6-3 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Pep Guardiola’s men have been bit with the injury bug once again after John Stones was substituted off against the Spanish giants in the second-leg, while Erling Haaland was left out of the action with a knee injury he suffered against Newcastle United last weekend.

There remains a chance that Stones could be subject to the same fate as Manuel Akanji in requiring surgery on his quadricep problem, although further assessments and a final decision will follow in the coming days.

Despite that air of negativity, Manchester City have won five of their last seven Premier League games and have regained a foothold in the battle for the top-four after a woeful November and December.

With the persistent injury issues in mind, let’s dig into how Pep Guardiola could set his Manchester City side up for the highly-anticipated clash with Premier League title hopefuls Liverpool this weekend!

Predicted XI

Ederson should take up his normal spot in between the sticks for Manchester City this weekend, despite Stefan Ortega Moreno seeing some time as the number one throughout various moments this season.

With a fresh injury setback for John Stones confirmed, the Sky Blues will likely be forced into rolling out natural full-backs once again which could mean Rico Lewis may rejoin the fray after a stellar performance against Newcastle last time out in the Premier League.

Abdukodir Khusanov has seemingly worked his way into the picture for regular starting minutes, and he should move back into the centre after starting at right-back against Real Madrid earlier in the week.

Meanwhile, Ruben Dias will be the lynchpin of the defensive core and after a shaky opening few moments against Real Madrid in midweek, the Portugal international recovered to bring about his usual leadership and stability at the heart of the rearguard.

With very little alternatives in the left-sided full-back position, and amid the fine form of the Croatian international across competitions particularly in an attacking sense, we believe the role will once again be handed to Josko Gvardiol.

As we head into the engine room of the Manchester City team, Nico Gonzalez looks poised to anchor the midfield in the classic Rodri role for the remainder of the season after a hugely encouraging start to life at the club.

Alongside of the former Porto man will be the industrious pairing of Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic who, despite their various struggles so far this season, will be tasked with battling an athletic Liverpool midfield.

On the right of Manchester City’s front-three will be Phil Foden, who has had the propensity to disappear from games this season, but he remains a major spark-plug for Pep Guardiola if he is on his game.

Erling Haaland could be back fit after sitting out during the week but at the time of writing this article remains subject to assessment on Saturday, and he would return to his rightful home at the head of the Manchester City attack.

Omar Marmoush has been a solid performer for Manchester City in recent weeks, though he has benefitted most from the presence of Erling Haaland. With the previous prediction that the Norwegian will return, our number seven should occupy the left-wing/second striker role.

Predicted XI: Ederson; Lewis, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol; Nico, Kovacic, Bernardo; Foden, Haaland, Marmoush.

Substitutes: Ortega Moreno, Nunes, Reis, Ake, Gundogan, De Bruyne, McAtee, Savinho, Doku.