Liverpool vs. Man City: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream and TV Info
Manchester City will attempt to bounce back from their midweek defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League by beating Liverpool at Anfield in Sunday's huge Premier League encounter.
With Chelsea in League Cup final action later in the day, City have an opportunity to close the gap at the top to just two points, temporarily at least, a situation that would crank up the pressure on Jose Mourinho's side.
Liverpool's league record against City at Anfield is impressive, with the Blues not having won there since 2003. Last season's game was an absolute classic, ending in a 3-2 win for the home side, a result that looked likely to see them win the title.
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
With Liverpool having played out extra time and penalties in Turkey on Thursday before a delayed flight back to England, their preparations have been hindered somewhat, something City will be hoping to capitalise on.
Form Guide (last five results for both teams)
Liverpool
Besiktas 1-0 Liverpool (Europa League)
Southampton 0-2 Liverpool
Liverpool 1-0 Besiktas (Europa League
Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool (FA Cup)
Liverpool 3-2 Tottenham
City
City 1-2 Barcelona
City 5-0 Newcastle
Stoke 1-4 City
City 1-1 Hull City
Chelsea 1-1 City
Predicted Formations
Liverpool
Much of Liverpool's improved form since the turn of the year has been put down to Brendan Rodgers' switch to a 3-4-2-1 formation. It suits their players much better and the results are clear. They are unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League games.
They will need to check on the fitness of Steven Gerrard (hamstring), Jordan Henderson (ankle), Mamadou Sakho (hip) and Glen Johnson (illness) before the game, all whom are slight doubts.
City
Manuel Pellegrini has a fully fit squad to choose from, with Yaya Toure, the club's influential Ivorian midfielder, returning to the side after missing Tuesday's defeat to Barcelona through suspension.
Players to Watch
Liverpool: Philippe Coutinho
He may, at times, drift out of matches, but Philippe Coutinho is very often the creator of Liverpool's finest moments going forward.
He has a wonderful first touch, and his ability to play a slide-rule ball is arguably unparalleled in the division. With Daniel Sturridge's movement and pace in front of him, it can be a lethal combination and one City will have to be well aware of.
City: David Silva
David Silva is City's creator-in-chief, something Liverpool fans will be well aware of having witnessed his quite brilliant second-half display in the corresponding fixture last season.
With City 2-0 down at half-time, Silva was majestic after the break, delivering arguably his finest performance in a City shirt. He scored, set up the equaliser and then was inches away from assisting a Sergio Aguero goal, with the Argentine forward so close to applying a crucial touch to Silva's cross.
Key Battle: Daniel Sturridge vs. Vincent Kompany
There can now be little doubt that Vincent Kompany is enduring a crisis of confidence, a period of poor form unlike anything he's suffered as a City player. He's been City's most reliable defender for years, and, in some people's eyes, one of the most important players in the club's history, but his recent displays have been poor.
On Sunday, he faces former City forward Sturridge, a player whose season has been disrupted by injury, but one who is beginning to rediscover his match sharpness again.
Sturridge is a player who can cause the very best problems, such is his pace in behind and his movement in and around the box. He can pull wide and drag defenders out of position, but is also sharp inside the area, making him difficult to mark.
With Kompany so plainly out of form, Sunday will be a difficult test. He must reassert his quality in what is a game of huge significance.
Odds (via Oddschecker)
Liverpool: 11/5
City: 7/5
Draw: 13/5
TV and Live Stream Listing
The game will be shown live on Sky Sports 1, with coverage starting at 11:30 a.m. GMT; alternatively you can stream the game via NowTV.
Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2014-15 season. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.
