Liverpool vs Manchester City – Premier League – Preview, Team News and Updates

Get ready, football fans—the Premier League’s most electrifying clash of the season is almost here. We may not have even rung in 2025 yet, but Sunday’s showdown between Liverpool and Manchester City feels like a defining moment in the race for the Premier League crown. So, grab your scarves, settle in, and prepare for a whirlwind of passion, intensity, and unmissable drama.

For Liverpool, the stars couldn’t have aligned more perfectly. Riding high after a dominant 2-0 triumph over Real Madrid, the Reds head into Sunday’s showdown bursting with confidence. On the flip side, this is the last thing Manchester City needed right now. Six games without a win—five defeats and a draw—have left Pep Guardiola’s side in complete disarray. Without their midfield general, Rodri, the Cityzens look like a ship lost at sea. And unless Guardiola finds an answer to the Rodri-shaped hole in his team, City might just find themselves out of the title race before the New Year. 

But let’s be real—stopping Liverpool at Anfield feels like wishful thinking right now. The Reds are a runaway train, blazing through opponents with six consecutive wins, including statement victories over Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, and Aston Villa. Arne Slot’s men are clicking at just the right time, and the Kop will be roaring them on to keep the momentum alive. So, can Guardiola pull a rabbit out of the hat to stop Liverpool in their tracks? Or are City set to slide even further out of contention? Sunday’s showdown could define their season—and the Premier League title race.  

Liverpool vs Manchester City – Match Preview 

Liverpool fans are on cloud nine at the moment, and who can blame them? Replacing a legend like Jürgen Klopp was always going to feel like an impossible task, but four months into the new season, it’s clear that Arne Slot has made the transition look effortless. The Dutchman has hit the ground running at Anfield, guiding the Reds to an almost flawless campaign so far, with just one loss to their name. And as if their blistering form in the league wasn’t enough, Liverpool have finally broken their Real Madrid curse. A commanding 2-0 victory at Anfield—courtesy of goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo—sealed the deal, leaving the Reds sitting pretty at the top of their Champions League group with one game to spare. 

But Slot’s magic isn’t limited to Europe. Domestically, Liverpool are setting the pace. After 12 games, they lead the Premier League by a healthy eight points over Manchester City. Regardless of what happens on Sunday, Liverpool would retain a healthy lead—giving the Reds a psychological boost heading into the weekend’s clash. To make things even sweeter, Liverpool are riding a six-game winning streak across all competitions, scoring for fun and keeping it tight at the back. Anfield has become a fortress once again, with three consecutive clean sheets against Real Madrid, Aston Villa, and Bayer Leverkusen. So, as the reigning champions come knocking, Liverpool fans will be buzzing with confidence. Slot’s Reds aren’t just contenders this season—they’re setting the standard. 

dominance over the past seven seasons. That’s why seeing them stumble so dramatically feels almost surreal. Guardiola has never endured a spell this challenging in his entire managerial career. No Rodri, no Ruben Dias, no Kevin De Bruyne—it’s a lineup that reads like a nightmare for Guardiola. For the first time in his glittering managerial career, Pep truly has his back against the wall. Now, it’s a true test of Pep’s tactical genius and man-management skills to pull his team out of this slump. City’s nightmare run began with a 2-1 Carabao Cup loss to Tottenham, and things only spiraled from there. Defeats to Bournemouth, Brighton, Sporting CP, and another humbling loss to Spurs followed. That second Spurs game was particularly brutal—Tottenham ran riot with a 4-0 demolition of City at the Etihad, leaving fans stunned.  

A flicker of hope appeared when Guardiola signed a new contract during this turbulent period. After racing to a three-goal lead against Feyenoord in their mid-week UCL tie, many fans thought normal service had been resumed. But oh boy were most fans wrong. But in a jaw-dropping 15 minutes, Feyenoord clawed their way back to snatch a 3-3 draw. Now, Sunday’s clash with Liverpool looms large—a crossroads moment for the reigning champions. A win could be the spark that reignites their season, proving that City’s title challenge is far from over. But a loss? he cracks in City’s title defense might widen into a full-blown collapse. 

Liverpool vs Manchester City – Team News and Updates 

Despite the heartbreak of their Feyenoord collapse, Manchester City did walk away with a silver lining. Ruben Dias, their rock at the back, returned to the bench after recovering from a calf injury—a welcome boost for Pep Guardiola. Even better, no new names were added to their growing injury list.  There’s more cautious optimism for City fans as Jeremy Doku, sidelined with a thigh issue, was back in training ahead of the Champions League clash and might just make his return on Sunday. However, the injury news isn’t all rosy. Key figures like John Stones (foot), Rodri (ACL), Oscar Bobb (leg), and Mateo Kovacic (unspecified) remain unavailable. Guardiola also faces a big decision regarding Kevin De Bruyne—eased in midweek but potentially ready to wreak havoc from the start this time. Add Savinho into the mix, and Guardiola’s final third could see a shake-up. Matheus Nunes, meanwhile, made a strong case for inclusion with his dynamic UCL performance, giving the Catalan boss yet another selection headache. 

Over at Anfield, Liverpool received their own timely boost ahead of Sunday’s blockbuster. Trent Alexander-Arnold, who returned to the squad against Real Madrid but didn’t feature, has been declared fit to start—a massive lift for Arne Slot, especially with Conor Bradley picking up a suspected hamstring injury midweek. However, Liverpool aren’t without their setbacks. Ibrahima Konate’s leg issue at the final whistle on Wednesday rules him out, paving the way for Joe Gomez to partner Virgil van Dijk in what will be his first Premier League start this season. The Reds will also continue to miss key players like Federico Chiesa (fitness), Diogo Jota (abdominal), Alisson Becker (hamstring), and Kostas Tsimikas (ankle). Slot, ever the pragmatist, may opt for just one tweak to his lineup, potentially introducing Dominik Szoboszlai for Curtis Jones to add fresh legs. 

Liverpool vs Manchester City – Kick-Off Time and Date 

The game is scheduled to take place on 1st December 2024 (Sunday) at Anfield in Liverpool. The match will kick off at 9:30 PM (Indian Standard Time).    

Also Read: Liverpool vs Manchester City Match Prediction, Fantasy Football Tips and Possible Starting Lineups