As the Premier League season heats up, all eyes turn to Anfield this Sunday for a pivotal clash between Liverpool and Manchester City. Both teams are vying for a Champions League qualification, adding extra significance to this already massive fixture.
Liverpool Team News
Liverpool manager Arne Slot faces key decisions in shaping his starting XI. Joe Gomez might be included in the matchday squad after recovering from an injury sustained against Bournemouth, but he is unlikely to start. Jeremie Frimpong is still sidelined with a muscle problem. Dominik Szoboszlai is expected to continue at right-back. The central defense will likely feature Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, with Milos Kerkez at left-back. Curtis Jones is in contention to return to the midfield, potentially alongside Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch. If Jones starts, Florian Wirtz may move into the front three, with Cody Gakpo on the bench. Hugo Ekitike is set to lead the attack. Alexander Isak and Giovanni Leoni remain unavailable.
Predicted Liverpool Lineup: Alisson; Szoboszlai, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.
Manchester City Team News
Pep Guardiola has concerns over the fitness of Bernardo Silva, who missed the midweek Carabao Cup win against Newcastle due to a knock. Silva will undergo a late assessment to determine his availability for the game. Joško Gvardiol, Mateo Kovačić, Savinho, and Jérémy Doku are all ruled out. Rúben Dias has returned to training and could feature. John Stones is also back in training but will be carefully reintegrated into the team. Erling Haaland was rested for the Newcastle game, and Guardiola remains undecided on whether he will start against Liverpool. Marc Guéhi is available after being ineligible for the Carabao Cup match.
Premier League Action
In other Premier League action, Manchester United secured a 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, with Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes scoring the goals. The Red card to Cristian Romero further compounded Tottenham's woes. Chelsea secured a 3-1 away win against Wolves, thanks to a first-half hat-trick from Cole Palmer. Brentford beat Newcastle 3-2, marking their first win at St James' Park since 1934. Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the table with a comfortable win over Sunderland.
WSL Matchday
Today also features a full slate of Women's Super League (WSL) matches. Key fixtures include Arsenal taking on Manchester City, Liverpool hosting Aston Villa, and Tottenham Hotspur facing Chelsea. Other matches include London City Lionesses against Everton, and West Ham versus Brighton. These games promise exciting action as teams battle for supremacy in the WSL. Sky Sports, the BBC, and the WSL YouTube channel are broadcasting the WSL matches in the UK.