Arsenal have ensured Manchester City will walk into Anfield with the table already leaning heavily on their shoulders, after a 2-1 comeback against Leeds United took them level with City on 15 points.
Goals from Riccardo Calafiori and Bruno Guimaraes turned Arsenal’s afternoon around and left the champions with little room for error on Merseyside. A defeat at Liverpool would leave City on 12 points, while Arsenal remain three clear.
Anfield set for a hostile afternoon
The fixture carries rather more than the usual weight of a meeting between two of the leading sides of recent Premier League seasons. Liverpool supporters are expected to make their feelings known over Manchester City’s financial case.
City were accused of 114 of the 115 alleged breaches examined by an Independent Commission. The club have appealed, and no punishment has yet been confirmed, but the case has caused deep resentment across English football, with a number of clubs believing they may have been disadvantaged. Liverpool are among those whose supporters feel past title races could have looked different without the alleged irregularities.
That makes a loud reception likely at a ground which has hosted some of the defining contests of City’s modern era, particularly during the managerial battles between Jürgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola.
Szoboszlai ruled out as Liverpool turn to Koumas
Liverpool suffered a late setback when Dominik Szoboszlai was omitted from both the starting side and the substitutes’ bench. The midfielder has a hamstring problem.
Manager Andoni Iraola has also been forced to work without Hugo Ekitiké and Alexander Isak, handing young Scottish forward Koumas the central attacking role.
Liverpool start with Alisson in goal, behind a defence of Araujo, Jacquet, Virgil van Dijk and Kerkez. Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch form the midfield pairing, with Víctor Muñoz, Florian Wirtz and Barcola operating behind Koumas.
Maresca keeps faith with City’s forward line
Enzo Maresca has named Matheus Nunes at right-back for City and retained his trust in Ndiaye’s attacking ambition. Erling Haaland leads the line, supported by Ndiaye, Rayan Cherki and Semenyo.
Gianluigi Donnarumma starts in goal. Nunes, Rúben Dias, Marc Guéhi and O’Reilly make up the back four, while Anderson and Enzo are selected in midfield.
| Team | Starting XI |
|---|---|
| Liverpool | Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Víctor Muñoz, Wirtz, Barcola; Koumas |
| Manchester City | Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guéhi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Enzo; Ndiaye, Cherki, Semenyo; Haaland |
Arsenal have done their part before the weekend’s biggest stage. City now face the familiar Anfield test, except this time the noise around them will concern both the points on offer and the arguments that have followed them into the ground.
