Manchester City vs Liverpool: Premier League Pick & Prediction, November 9, 2025
Reigning champions Liverpool travel to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, November 9, for a potentially decisive clash against Manchester City in the race to catch leaders Arsenal.
Fresh from crucial victories – including a solid performance to eventually snatch only a 1-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday – Arne Slot’s Reds enter this weekend’s round with renewed belief and momentum. The Merseysiders now have the chance to claim a third consecutive win in all competitions and record something they haven’t achieved in more than three decades: back-to-back league victories away to Manchester City.
Head-to-Head History (H2H: Manchester City vs Liverpool)
Liverpool’s 2-0 triumph at Man City in February ended a long drought – it was their first Premier League win at the Etihad since November 2015. The last time the Reds celebrated consecutive league wins away to Manchester City was all the way back in 1991, during the Maine Road era.
Despite City’s generally dominant home record in recent years, Liverpool have proven capable of frustrating Pep Guardiola’s men, and Arne Slot will be eager to secure another confidence-boosting result over his Spanish counterpart in what promises to be another high-intensity chapter in this modern Premier League rivalry.
Manchester City: Current Form and Team News
Pep Guardiola enters his 1,000th managerial match with Manchester City in fine spirits after a resounding 4-1 win over Borussia Dortmund in midweek Champions League action – their sixth victory in seven matches across all competitions.
Domestically, the Citizens also eased past an in-form Bournemouth 3-1 last weekend, with Erling Haaland netting twice and Phil Foden marking his 200th appearance with an inspired performance. The Norwegian striker has now scored in nine straight home games for club and country, bagging 19 goals in that stretch, and could make Premier League history by reaching 100 goals faster than any other player with another brace here.
Manchester City have won 11 of their last 12 home games in all competitions (apart from a 2-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in August) and have been especially ruthless at the Etihad this season, with six consecutive home victories coming by two-goal margins or greater. Guardiola, however, remains without experienced Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic, while Rodri was rested in midweek due to discomfort and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Still, City’s depth is unrivaled – Rayan Cherki, Jeremy Doku, and Phil Foden have all stepped up creatively, ensuring that Guardiola’s 1,000th game could be another showcase of his team’s attacking artistry.
Liverpool: Current Form and Team News
After enduring a dreadful domestic run in late September and throughout October, Liverpool appear to be turning a corner. Back-to-back clean-sheet victories – 2-0 over Aston Villa and 1-0 over Real Madrid – have restored confidence in Arne Slot’s squad as they look to reignite their Premier League title defence.
The Reds’ defensive improvement has been significant: Andy Robertson has returned to form at the expense of Milos Kerkez, while Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate have marshalled a backline that has produced two solid efforts. In goal, Giorgi Mamardashvili continues to deputise for the injured Alisson Becker, who remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Alexander Isak is edging closer to fitness after returning to team training on Friday but is unlikely to play a key role this weekend, meaning Hugo Ekitike should once again lead the line. Jeremie Frimpong also misses out due to a hamstring issue, while Italian defender Giovanni Leoni is a long-term absentee.
One man who will be vital to Liverpool’s hopes is Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian has been directly involved in all four of Liverpool’s goals against Manchester City last season (two goals, two assists) and has 12 goal contributions in 10 league meetings with City over the past five seasons. His influence in big matches remains unmatched – and Slot will look to build his attacking plan around him once again.
Tactical Duel in Guardiola’s 1,000th game: Pep Guardiola vs Arne Slot
This matchup pits Guardiola’s structured positional dominance against Slot’s pressing and transitional aggression – a stylistic contrast that has defined many recent title battles.
City will likely monopolise possession through Nico Gonzalez, Reijnders, Foden and Bernardo Silva, looking to overload Liverpool’s defensive channels and isolate Haaland against the centre-backs.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s strategy may revolve around swift transitions – utilizing Salah’s pace, Ekitike’s hold-up play, and Szoboszlai’s energy to strike when City commit bodies forward.
Set-pieces could also play a decisive role, with both sides boasting aerial threats and, of course, set-piece takers themselves.
Possible Starting Lineups of Manchester City and Liverpool
Manchester City: Gianluigi Donnarumma – Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Nico O’Reilly – Nico Gonzalez, Bernardo Silva – Phil Foden, Tijjani Reijnders, Jeremy Doku – Erling Haaland. (4-2-3-1)
Liverpool: Giorgi Mamardashvili – Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez – Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister – Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo – Hugo Ekitike. (4-2-3-1)
Manchester City vs Liverpool Betting Odds and Prediction
According to our trusted partners EveryGame, Manchester City enter Sunday’s blockbuster as -120 favorites to extend their dominant form at the Etihad, while Liverpool are priced at +275 to secure a third consecutive victory over Pep Guardiola’s men. Meanwhile, the draw is valued at +300.
In the goalscorer markets, Erling Haaland leads the line at -137 to score anytime – a reflection of his extraordinary form for Man City yet again (especially at the Etihad), while Mohamed Salah presents excellent value at +175.
Our betting streak continues after correctly predicting Manchester City to win and both teams to score in their victories over Bournemouth and Borussia Dortmund (you can read both breakdowns in our soccer betting section). For Sunday’s clash, however, we’re opting for a more balanced approach.
With both clubs boasting explosive attacking quality and the Etihad known for high-scoring encounters, our recommended best bet offers both safety and upside – covering a potential City win while anticipating plenty of goals from two elite attacks.