The stage is set for a blockbuster showdown at the Etihad Stadium this weekend.
Manchester City will lock horns with Liverpool this coming Saturday in a mouth-watering top-of-the-table clash.
Read on as Kimbiblog Sports brings you a preview of this Premier League match-up.
Manchester City vs. Liverpool Preview
Form Guide
Liverpool and Manchester City headed into the international break in a good run of form.
The Reds are ranked second in the form chart, racking up 11 points in their last five matches.
They went unbeaten during that period, recording wins over Brentford, Nottingham Forest, and Everton and grabbing a point each in their matches against Brighton and Luton Town.
City scored 10 points in their last five league matches, the third-highest in the English top flight.
They went on a four-match unbeaten run after losing 1-0 to Arsenal, nabbing wins over Brighton, Manchester United, and Bournemouth, and grabbing a point against Chelsea in their pulsating 4-4 draw.
A @premierleague classic ⚡️
Highlights from our 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge 👇 pic.twitter.com/mXjtTNhp8v
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 12, 2023
Manchester City have turned Etihad Stadium into a fortress, winning all five of their league matches there this season.
Liverpool are seventh in the league in points scored in away matches with nine, recording two wins, three draws, and one loss in their travels this campaign.
Recent Head-to-Head Matchups
Liverpool and Manchester City split their meetings in the Premier League last season. The Reds drew first blood, winning 1-0 at Anfield on October 16, 2022. Mohamed Salah scored the lone goal in the 76th minute of that contest.
Salah solo performance against Man City. https://t.co/H95PbV3dpm pic.twitter.com/NDhzjgPDZr
— Abdallah Zakaria 🇵🇸 (@Itz_zeka99) June 12, 2023
City gained revenge on April 1, 2023, recording an emphatic 4-1 victory. The Reds took an early 1-0 lead courtesy of Salah in the 17th minute.
City responded, with Julian Alvarez, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, and Jack Grealish scoring the goals for the defending champions.
City 4-1 victory Vs Liverpool.
ONLY Haaaaland celebrated the most🩵 pic.twitter.com/hsI1sR7aJQ
— NO CONTENT (@CONTENT_LES) November 21, 2023
City are unbeaten in their last seven home league matches against Liverpool, dating back to 2017. They racked up five wins and two draws during that stretch.
Team News: Will Haaland play?
Injuries to key players are the main concern for City heading into their clash against Liverpool. Erling Haaland suffered an ankle injury over the international break, picking up the problem during Norway’s match against the Faroe Islands.
Haaland injury in Int. friendly Norway vs Faroe Island 16.11.2023 😭#Haaland pic.twitter.com/hagm2IaLG1
— ชุ แมนซิ (@chumancity) November 17, 2023
Haaland didn’t play in their next game against Scotland, with the Norway doctor confirming that “he is in so much pain,” per Sports Illustrated
The ankle that Haaland injured is the same one that he twisted in the game against Bournemouth. He is now in a race against time to be fit for the game against the Reds.
Fabrizio Romano gave an update on X regarding Haaland’s health, saying that his “injury is not serious and he will be fit for City vs. Liverpool.”
Ederson. Matheus Nunes, Mateo Kovacic, and Nathan Ake were all forced to withdraw from their respective national teams because of various injuries. Their status for Saturday’s match remains uncertain.
The Reds’ key players are fit and ready to go for the game against City. The only concern for Liverpool is the long travel of midfielder Alexis Mac Allister. He played in Argentina’s win over Brazil at the Maracana Stadium last Tuesday night.
A 1-0 win for Alexis and Argentina in Brazil last night 👏🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/YlNlprWJuU
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 22, 2023
Comparing Haaland and Salah’s EPL stats
Sports Brief recently compared the stats of Haaland and Salah in the Premier League this season.
Haaland leads the English top flight in scoring with 13 goals this campaign.
Salah isn’t far behind, scoring 10 goals for Liverpool in 12 league matches.