Despite Liverpool winning the last two league matches between the two, Manchester City have a very strong home record at the Etihad, winning four of their five matches there this season. With key players in form, including Erling Haaland, City will likely take all three points
Match info: Premier League
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Date: Sunday, 9th November 2025
Time: 5:30 pm Nigerian time
Pep Guardiola's 1,000th game as a manager could hardly be a more fitting one, as the Spaniard's Manchester City host Premier League champions Liverpool in Sunday's blockbuster battle.
The Citizens have a one-point and one-place advantage over the Reds in the top-flight table after 10 matches, although Arne Slot's wounded winners have rediscovered their mojo at the ideal time.
Head-to-head:
- Manchester City have won 12 of the 56 Premier League meetings between the two teams.
- Liverpool recorded 23 victories.
- The remaining 21 clashes ended in draws.
- Over the last five encounters, Liverpool have won two, two have ended in draws, and Manchester City have claimed one comfortable victory.
- Liverpool won this fixture home and away last season with 2-0 scoreline in both.
- Erling Haaland enters the match as the league’s top scorer, with 13 goals in 10 league games.
- Nine of their last 10 encounters produced at least two goals.
Form:
- Man City in the league: W-W-W-L-W
- Man City in all competitions: W-L-W-W-W
- Liverpool in the league: L-L-L-L-W
- Liverpool in all competitions: W-L-L-W-W
Team News:
- Manchester City will be without Mateo Kovacic for this match, as he continues to recover from an ankle injury. The Croatian midfielder is expected to return in early January 2026, leaving City short of a composed ball-carrier in the centre of the pitch.
- Liverpool face several key absences. Alisson Becker remains sidelined with a hip issue until late November, while Stefan Bajcetic is also out with a hamstring injury. Giovanni Leoni’s cruciate problem keeps him unavailable until late December. Jeremie Frimpong targets a mid-December comeback, and Alexander Isak could return soon from a short-term groin concern.
Player(s) to watch:
- Erling Haaland enters this match in fantastic form, and his presence alone will dictate how Liverpool defend in this game. City will look for him early on in the game. He is a regular in punishing any hesitation inside the box. His movement creates space for others, but he remains the main threat. One chance can decide this fixture, and he usually takes it. Haaland has scored 18 goals and provided one assist in 14 matches so far in all competitions.
- Mohamed Salah remains Liverpool’s most potent weapon in moments that shift matches. He drifts into pockets, waits for the smallest mistake, and then strikes with calm, decisive finishing. His awareness in transition gives Liverpool a constant outlet, and City know one loose touch or slow step can place the entire game in his hands. Salah has scored five goals and provided three assists in 15 matches across competitions so far this season.