Premier League champions Manchester City visit Liverpool this week, so HITC Football has taken a look at a combined XI. Naturally, Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah lead the side.
Liverpool have not beaten Manchester City in the two side’s last five top-flight games. The Reds and Citizens played out a pair of 2-2 draws last term. But the Anfield outfit ended the campaign by beating their Etihad Stadium rivals 3-2 at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-finals.
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Jurgen Klopp also oversaw a 3-1 win over Pep Guardiola’s team in the Community Shield in July. The German will now look to get the better of the Spaniard in a Premier League game for the first time since November 2019. Liverpool edged Manchester City 3-1 on home soil.
Liverpool are in need of a result against Manchester City on Sunday having endured a poor start to the season by their standards. The Reds only rank in 10th place with 10 points over eight fixtures following just two wins. They are already six points off the top four positions.
A Manchester City win on Sunday would additionally create a 16-point margin between the two clubs. Liverpool only ended last season a point off the Citizens as the title race went to the wire. Guardiola’s squad claimed another crown on 93 points over the Reds’ haul of 92.
The Etihad Stadium outfit also go into this weekend’s game as the last remaining unbeaten Premier League club this term. Guardiola has overseen seven wins and two draws from his side’s nine games for 23 points. Only Arsenal have taken more (24) after beating Liverpool.
If Liverpool are to stand a chance of beating Manchester City, their XI will have to limit the threat of Haaland. The Citizens will also look to repeat what Arsenal could and limit Salah’s impact. Both are elite stars and feature in our combined Liverpool and Manchester City XI.
Alisson Becker (GK): Liverpool star guards the net in our combined XI with Man City
Alisson Becker guards the net in our combined Liverpool and Manchester City XI ahead of their Premier League encounter. The Brazilian has been one of the Reds’ most consistent performers so far this term. He has also saved Klopp’s team from further embarrassment.
Kyle Walker (RB): England will hope the Man City ace recovers from his injury
England will be hoping Kyle Walker recovers from a groin injury after the Manchester City star underwent surgery earlier this month. The 32-year-old is regularly Gareth Southgate’s favoured selection over Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has struggled this season.
Alexander-Arnold has proven he is a prolific creator since he emerged as the Reds’ number-one choice at right-back. But the 24-year-old has not recorded an assist in the top-flight so far this term. He has also been given the run around defensively due to a lack of awareness.
Ruben Dias (CB): The Man City star could give Liverpool some hope on Sunday
Ruben Dias has been Manchester City’s best centre-half since joining from Benfica in 2020 for £65m. But while the Portuguese is regularly a commanding and aggressive presence in Guardiola’s backline, he could give Liverpool some hope on Sunday if they can run at him.
Virgil van Dijk (CB): Is the Dutchman a part of Liverpool’s problems this season?
Virgil van Dijk could be a part of Liverpool’s problems this season, or a victim of the Reds’ troubles. The Dutchman has made a number of important tackles and interceptions in the Premier League. But his passing has been suspect and has gone missing for some goals.
Joao Cancelo (LB): Man City ace will look to get forward against Liverpool’s XI
Joao Cancelo will look to get forward and help Manchester City attack Liverpool’s XI. He is a key part of Guardiola’s attacking plans and can create chances from almost nothing. But the Portuguese will have to be on high alert to keep the Reds from getting in behind him.
Thiago Alcantara (CDM): Spanish maestro will look to dictate the pace at Anfield
Thiago Alcantara will look to dictate the pace in Liverpool’s favour against Manchester City on Sunday. The Spanish maestro is the conductor in Klopp’s squad and also helps the Reds get control in the middle third. He may have to work overtime to control this week’s game.
Ilkay Gundogan (CDM): The German will help the Citizens try to gain control
Ilkay Gundogan will be key as Manchester City try to gain control at Liverpool. The German has screened the Citizens’ backline well so far this term, whilst offering leadership with the captain’s armband in some games. He also boasts two goals and an assist in the top-flight.
Mohamed Salah (RM): Klopp will want to see more from Liverpool’s talisman
Klopp will want to see more from Salah against Manchester City as the Liverpool talisman struggled at Arsenal last week. Takehiro Tomiyasu was able to silence the Egyptian for the most part, with Salah only enjoying one real burst forward before going off on 69 minutes.
The 30-year-old is also now five Premier League appearances without a goal and has only scored two this season. Salah last found the back of the net as Liverpool lost 2-1 away to Manchester United in August. He struck 23 goals in 35 top-flight games through last term.
Kevin De Bruyne (CAM): The Man City maestro could decide Sunday’s game
Kevin De Bruyne could decide Sunday’s match with Liverpool in Manchester City’s favour. He is playing at a sublime level so far this season with nine assists and a goal over his nine Premier League games already. He has only failed to influence the scoring in two fixtures.
Phil Foden (LM): Liverpool are facing the Man City product at the wrong time
Liverpool are facing Phil Foden at the wrong time as the Manchester City product has hit a superb vein of form. The 22-year-old has five goals and an assist during his last three top-flight outings. He also fired three of those goals to help City thrash Manchester United 6-3.
Erling Haaland (ST): Liverpool will look to repeat Bournemouth vs Man City
Liverpool will look to repeat AFC Bournemouth when they host Manchester City on Sunday as the Cherries are the only side to stop Erling Haaland scoring against them in the Premier League so far. The 22-year-old has an insane haul of 15 goals across just nine appearances.
Haaland has also hit hat-tricks against Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United. He also found Foden for two assists against the Red Devils, while also creating one against Bournemouth. The £51m striker has not yet failed to influence a goal in the league.
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