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Liverpool – Man City: recent form, team news, head-to-head, Salah vs Haaland…
With Liverpool already eight points clear at the top of the Premier League, Guardiola's team must win to keep their title hopes alive.
It feels like an outrageous question to ask, but could the Premier League title race be over before the end of November? If Liverpool beat Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday (November 30), the Reds will move 11 points clear of Pep Guardiola's team and at least maintain their nine-point lead over Chelsea, Arsenal and surprise package Brighton.
Liverpool's slot machine
Few expected such a seamless transition when Arne Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager. Since the Dutchman's arrival, the Merseysiders have won 17 of 19 games in all competitions, with their only defeat coming at home to Nottingham Forest.
In addition to being eight points clear at the top of the Premier League, Wednesday's 2-0 win over Real Madrid also means Liverpool are the only team with a perfect record after five games in the competitive phase of the Champions League.
Pep Guardiola's worst performance as a coach
As for City, the wheels have come off in spectacular fashion. After opening the season with an unbeaten run of thirteen games (fourteen of which included the Community Shield), they suffered five consecutive defeats, the first time in Guardiola's managerial career.
Midway through the week, City looked confident of ending their winless streak after taking a 3-0 lead against Feyenoord in the Champions League, but conceded three late goals to literally leave Guardiola scratching his head.
Liverpool team news: injury update vs manchester city
Sunday's match is expected to come just too early for Liverpool quartet Alisson Becker, Diogo Jota, Kostas Tsimikas and Federico Chiesa, who should all be back in action soon.
Ibrahima Konaté and Conor Bradley both suffered injuries during the win over Real Madrid, and “let's wait and see” how Slot assessed their availability.
Manchester City team news: injury update vs Liverpool
City will again have to make do without Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, who may not return from an ACL tear until next season. Mateo Kovacic, his potential replacement, is also out, along with wingers Jérémy Doku and Oscar Bobb.
John Stones, who did not feature against Feyenoord, is doubtful, although fellow centre-back Rúben Dias was back on the bench in midweek and Kevin De Bruyne could be in contention after a number of recent substitute appearances following his recovery from a groin injury.
Mohamed Salah vs Erling Haaland
Mohamed Salah is in red-hot form, with ten goals in his last fourteen appearances in all competitions. The Egyptian is the second top scorer in the Premier League (10 goals) behind City's Erling Haaland, although the two are currently on different paths.
The Norwegian started the season in a thrilling manner, scoring ten goals in five Premier League games. However, despite a Champions League double against Feyenoord, he has only scored twice in his last seven league matches.
Liverpool – Manchester City: head-to-head record
Liverpool and City have each won three of their last ten meetings between the teams, drawing four of them. However, the Sky Blues have won just once at Anfield in 23 attempts, with Guardiola coming out on top just once in nine games on Merseyside.
Although there are still 23 Premier League games to go after Sunday, that record will certainly have to change if City are to win a seventh league tie in eight years and avoid Liverpool's first win since the 2019/20 Covid-19 season .