Liverpool vs Manchester City Best Bet – Sunday, February 23, 2025

In a game that could dramatically influence the Premier League title race, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City prepare for a monumental clash against Arne Slot’s Liverpool at the Etihad this Sunday. While City’s title hopes hang by a thread, they still have the power to dent Liverpool’s ambitions and potentially give Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal a major boost. Let’s take a look at this matchup on Sunday between Liverpool vs Manchester City.

Earlier this season, Liverpool secured a 2-0 victory over Manchester City at Anfield – sparking controversy with Guardiola’s infamous six-finger gesture. 

Historically, the Reds have completed the league double over reigning champions on six occasions, last achieving this feat against Chelsea in the 2010-11 season.

Manchester City Betting Preview 

Despite a daunting 17-point gap between the two sides in the Premier League standings right now, Manchester City are beginning to rediscover their home dominance in domestic competition. Their dreams of a historic five-peat might be all but over – barring a miraculous turnaround – but securing a top-four finish remains firmly in their sights, especially with Champions League qualification on the line.

Following their Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid, where Kylian Mbappe’s hat-trick sealed a 6-3 aggregate win on Wednesday night, City now shift focus entirely to the Premier League and FA Cup. Yet, Pep Guardiola’s men appear rejuvenated on home soil, highlighted by their commanding 4-0 victory over Newcastle United last weekend – a result that keeps them clinging to fourth place.

Manchester City have won their last three Premier League home matches, netting at least three goals in each game. Their conversion rate of 24.7% in 2025 is a remarkable turnaround from the sluggish 9.6% recorded between August and December.

City’s injury woes could complicate matters. Erling Haaland’s knee issue – sustained late in their win over Newcastle – remains a concern, with Guardiola unable to confirm his availability. Defensively, City are also struggling, with John Stones, Manuel Akanji, Oscar Bobb, and Rodri all sidelined.

In attack, Omar Marmoush is making a name for himself after his hat-trick heroics against Newcastle, while Ederson has a chance to make history as the first goalkeeper to register assists in three consecutive Premier League games.

Liverpool Betting Preview 

On the flip side, Liverpool are showing signs of vulnerability at a crucial stage. A narrow 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers followed by a frustrating 2-2 draw at Aston Villa suggests the once-dominant Reds are beginning to wobble. Should Arsenal triumph in their London derby against West Ham on Saturday afternoon, the Gunners could close the gap to just five points before Liverpool step onto the pitch at the Etihad.

All in all, Arne Slot’s side have secured only one win from their last four matches across all competitions. However, their Premier League away form remains unbeaten in the 2024-25 season, with goals scored in all 14 away games thus far.

The Reds might be without Cody Gakpo due to a lingering knock. Joe Gomez and Tyler Morton are also unavailable, and Conor Bradley is almost certain to miss out following a suspected hamstring tweak against Aston Villa. However, their talisman, Mohamed Salah, remains a potent threat, having been directly involved in 13 Premier League goals against City – trailing only Steven Gerrard’s record of 14.

With his goal and assist at Villa Park, the Egyptian forward already boasts a remarkable record of 24 goals and 15 assists in 26 Premier League games this season. 

Possible Starting Lineups of Manchester City and Liverpool 

• Manchester City: Ederson – Rico Lewis, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, Josko Gvardiol – Nico Gonzalez; Mateo Kovacic – Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, Omar Marmoush – Erling Haaland. (4-2-3-1) 
• Liverpool: Alisson Becker – Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson – Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister – Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Luis Diaz – Diogo Jota. (4-2-3-1) 

Spooky Express Betting Prediction 

According to the latest odds from EveryGame, Liverpool are priced at +120, Manchester City at +195, and the Draw at +290. With Liverpool aiming to capitalize on Arsenal’s stumble earlier in the weekend, the Reds have the perfect opportunity to strengthen their grip on the title race. Given City’s vulnerabilities and Liverpool’s consistent scoring form, we recommend backing Liverpool or Draw and Over 2.5 Goals (X2 & Over 2.5) at +105.

This selection offers solid value, considering Liverpool’s attacking prowess – led by Mohamed Salah, who has contributed to 13 goals against City – and City’s recent trend of high-scoring home matches. Place 5/10 units on this bet for a strong combination of risk and reward.

For more Premier League betting tips and expert predictions, follow SpookyExpress.com – your trusted source for sports betting insights!

Spooky Express Free Play: Liverpool or Draw (X2 and Over 2.5) and Over 2.5 Goals +105 at EveryGame for 5/10 Units

Spooky Express Free Play 2: Mohamed Salah Anytime Goalscorer +120 at EveryGame for 5/10 Units