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Manchester City – Liverpool FC
This weekend the Premier League also returns from the international break. Many players were active in the qualifiers for the European Championship 2024 in the previous week and are now looking forward to more exciting games with their parent clubs. The top match in England’s top flight will take place on Saturday lunchtime. The Citizens will host their rivals from Merseyside at 13:30. Both teams urgently need three points at the weekend. Find out which team will give their fans a good start to the weekend in our Man City – Liverpool tip.
Manchester City are lagging behind their high expectations in the league. The Citizens are currently eight points behind leaders Arsenal. However, City still have a game in hand. In the last match before the international break, the Skyblues beat Burnley 6-0 to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
The situation looks even more serious for the upcoming opponents from Liverpool. The Reds are only sixth in the league. In their last league match, Liverpool lost 0:1 against Bournemouth. In addition, Liverpool clearly failed in the round of 16 of the Champions League against Real Madrid.
Man City – Liverpool info:
– Date & Time: 01/04/2023, 13:30.
– Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
– Competition: Premier League, Matchday 29
– TV coverage: Sky
Man City Form & Balance Check
Once again, Manchester City are involved in the championship race in the league. However, coach Pep Guardiola’s team is exceptionally only the chaser this season. The Citizens are currently eight points behind the Gunners. However, City have also played one game less in the league.
In the FA Cup and the Champions League, however, Man City is still fully on course. Before the international break, City advanced to the semi-finals of the world’s oldest cup competition and swept aside second division Burnley 6-0. The Skyblues will now face Bayern in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after comfortably beating RB Leipzig in the round of 16.
Always Haaland
Last season, there were two players who secured the title of top scorer in the Premier League: Mo Salah and Heu-min Son. Both players scored 23 goals each in the season. This season, however, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland already has 28 league goals to his name after 27 games and is well on his way to winning the goalscoring crown.
In his last two games for City against Leipzig and Burnley, the Norwegian scored an incredible eight goals in total. However, the attacker did not make the international trip with his country recently due to minor injuries. Haaland’s appearance in the important clash with Liverpool, however, is probably not in danger.
Man City facts & analysis
– 2nd place in the Premier League
– Best offence in the Premier League
– In the quarter-finals of the Champions League
Liverpool form & balance check
Liverpool’s current run of form under the guidance of coach Jurgen Klopp has been uncharacteristic for the Merseyside side. The Reds have already suffered eight defeats in the Premier League. However, the team improved somewhat in the last few league games. The beginning of a good series was initiated by the 2-0 win in the derby against Everton.
However, after five consecutive games without defeat, including the excellent 7-0 win over Man United, Liverpool conceded defeat to bottom of the table Bournemouth in their last Premier League game. And the Champions League was also disappointing for the Reds. Liverpool were no match for Real Madrid in the last 16. Over two games, LFC lost clearly with a total of 2:6.
Little power for the Reds
LFC’s problems this season are most evident in attack. Liverpool still have the fourth most potent attack in the Premier League, but the Reds seem to lack effectiveness in finishing this season compared to previous years. At the same time last season, Liverpool scored 23 more goals in the Premier League.
And Liverpool are also completely lacking consistency this season. The 9-0 first leg win over Bournemouth and the 7-0 win over Man United were exclamation marks from LFC. The two games are among the highest wins in Liverpool’s Premier League history. However, the Reds have also gone seven times without scoring a goal of their own in the league this term.
Liverpool facts & analysis
– 6th in the Premier League with 42 points.
– 18 points less in the Premier League than last season at this time
– Eleven away defeats in all competitions this season
Predicted line-up – last updated on 30 March 2023
Manchester City will again start in a 4-2-3-1 against the Reds. Kevin De Bruyne has rarely played from the start for the Citziens recently. On Saturday we still expect him in the starting line-up. In attack, Erling Haaland, who recently missed the international matches with Norway due to injury, will be back in action.
As usual, we expect coach Jürgen Klopp’s team to play in a 4-3-3. Darwin Núñez has been missing with an injury recently, but is expected to be ready to play again on Saturday. Along with Gakpo and Salah, he will form the trio up front against City.
Man City – Liverpool direct comparison & stats
Liverpool have a clear lead in direct duels. The Reds won 80 of the 169 encounters, 44 games ended in draws and Manchester City triumphed in only 45 games. In the recent past, Liverpool have also been mostly successful, with LFC winning three of their last four competitive matches. However, Man City narrowly won the last meeting in the EFL Cup 3-2.
– Man City have won only one of their last six games against Liverpool.
– Liverpool’s last away win at Man City in the league was in 2015.
– When Manchester City lead 1-0 in home games, they win 92% of matches
– Liverpool have failed to score in 6 of their 13 away games in the Premier League this season
