Liverpool vs Man City preview: Team news, line-ups and key stats

Q: What is at stake for Manchester City?

Manchester City need a win to keep pace with Arsenal in the Premier League title race and avoid falling further behind.

February 07, 2026 • 0 • min read

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Liverpool vs Man City preview: Team news, line-ups and key stats

A blockbuster Premier League clash awaits at Anfield on Sunday as Liverpool welcome Manchester City in one of the standout fixtures of matchday 25.

Whilst this meeting no longer sits at the sharp end of a direct title race, the repercussions could still echo loudly across the remainder of the season.

Both teams arrive short on confidence, each having won just once in their last six league outings, and both desperately need a statement result.

Kick-off is scheduled for Sunday, 8 February 2026, at 16:30 GMT, with Anfield once again set to provide a feverish backdrop.

Pressure on both dugouts

For Arne Slot, the task is clear.

Liverpool sit sixth on 39 points and are chasing a top-four finish rather than a title tilt.

A home win over City would provide a huge psychological boost, particularly with Manchester United and Chelsea just ahead in the table.

City, meanwhile, remain firmly in the title hunt.

Pep Guardiola's side are second on 47 points, six behind leaders Arsenal.

With Arsenal facing Sunderland on Saturday, City could arrive at Anfield nine points adrift, making victory close to essential if their championship ambitions are to stay alive.

Liverpool team news

Injuries continue to shape Liverpool's season.

Slot will be without:

Alexander Isak (ankle)
Jeremie Frimpong (groin)
Joe Gomez (rib)
Stefan Bajčetić (hamstring)
Conor Bradley (knee, out for the season)
Giovanni Leoni (knee, out for the season)

The long-term absence of Isak has only underlined the importance of Hugo Ekitike.

Signed amid questions about squad balance, the French forward has been one of Liverpool's standout performers, scoring 10 league goals and 14 across all competitions.

With Mohamed Salah enduring a rare dip in form, Ekitike's consistency has been vital.

His decisive goals against Newcastle United last time out secured a morale-boosting win and reinforced his growing influence in Slot's system.

Manchester City team news

City's injury list is also far from ideal.

Guardiola may be without several key figures:

John Stones (muscle)
Mateo Kovačić (ankle)
Jérémy Doku (calf)
Savinho (knock)

Rúben Dias remains a doubt, though Guardiola can still call upon attacking talent including Omar Marmoush, Rayan Aït-Nouri and Antoine Semenyo.

This season has felt unusually turbulent for City.

Their attacking patterns remain familiar, but the trademark control that once suffocated opponents has often been missing.

The issue has been most apparent after half-time as City have dropped 11 points from winning positions this season, conceding six second-half goals without scoring once in 2026 so far.

As Guardiola recently admitted, this is a younger, evolving side still learning harsh lessons.

Head-to-head and key stats

Liverpool have lost just one of their last 22 home league games against Manchester City (W14, D7).
City are chasing their first league double over Liverpool since 1936/37, having won 3-0 at the Etihad in November.
Manchester City have not conceded a first-half league goal in 2026 but are yet to score after the break.
Erling Haaland has failed to score in all three of his Premier League away games at Anfield.
Ekitike averages a goal or assist every 112 minutes, Liverpool's best debut-season ratio since Salah in 2017/18.

Predicted line-ups

Liverpool (4-2-3-1):
Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike

Manchester City (4-1-4-1):
Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly; González; Silva, Reijnders, Foden, Doku; Haaland

What's at stake?

For Liverpool, this is about momentum and belief.

A win over a title-chasing City side could reignite their push for the top four and reassert Anfield's status as one of the league's toughest venues.

For City, defeat could be devastating.

Overcoming a potential nine-point gap to Arsenal would require a dramatic collapse elsewhere, something that looks increasingly unlikely.

Guardiola knows his side must rediscover composure and control - quickly.

Sunday's clash may not decide the title outright, but it could define the direction of both seasons.