Premier League Preview: Liverpool vs Manchester City – Sunday, December 1, 2024

Anfield sets the stage for a blockbuster Premier League encounter this Sunday as reigning champions Manchester City face high-flying Liverpool in a pivotal clash. The two titans of English football meet in a game that could significantly shape the title race.

Pep Guardiola’s men are unbeaten in their last four meetings with Liverpool (2-2-0), though both games last season have ended in 1-1 draws. Thus, the Reds will be looking for their first success over Manchester City since a 1-0 home win in October 2022, when Mohamed Salah’s second-half strike made the difference. 

Liverpool Betting Preview (+105 at EveryGame)

The Reds enter Sunday’s showdown riding a wave of momentum. Arne Slot’s men warmed up for the champions’ visit with an emphatic 2-0 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League, breaking their long standing jinx against the Spanish giants. Despite a rare missed penalty from Mohamed Salah, second-half goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo, and a crucial penalty save by Caoimhin Kelleher from Kylian Mbappe ensured Liverpool’s perfect start to their European campaign remained intact.

That continental triumph followed a hard-fought 3-2 league win at Southampton, where Salah’s second-half brace rescued Liverpool from a potential upset. With six consecutive victories across all competitions, the Reds have been scoring freely and keeping clean sheets in their last three games at Anfield (including wins over Bayer Leverkusen, Aston Villa and Real Madrid).

Slot has already made history, joining Carlo Ancelotti and Guus Hiddink in an elite group of Premier League managers to win 10 of their first 12 games. Furthermore, Liverpool’s recent record in such high-stakes clashes is encouraging; none of their last six managers have lost their first Premier League meeting with the reigning English champions.

In a significant blow for Arne Slot’s setup, Ibrahima Konate revealed he will be forced to endure an extended spell on the sidelines. The French centre-back sustained a knee injury after a heavy challenge from Real Madrid’s substitute Endrick in the final moments of Liverpool’s victory over Real Madrid in midweek. and his condition required on-pitch treatment after the final whistle.

Although the Reds have yet to provide a specific timeline for his recovery, Konate’s absence marks a significant setback as the team navigates a critical stretch of their campaign. The Frenchman has been a mainstay in Liverpool’s backline, forming a solid partnership with Virgil van Dijk since replacing Jarell Quansah at halftime in the season opener against Ipswich Town. Konaté has started every Premier League and Champions League fixture since.

Joe Gomez is the leading candidate to replace Konate, having recently climbed ahead of Jarell Quansah in the defensive pecking order. Quansah, however, may also feature, particularly as he started during Manchester City’s most recent visit to Anfield in March.

Liverpool’s packed December schedule adds urgency to Konate’s absence. The Reds face back-to-back Premier League trips to Newcastle United and Everton next week, followed by a Champions League clash at Girona. Additional league games against Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur flank a League Cup quarter-final clash with Southampton. The month concludes with a Boxing Day showdown at home to Leicester City and an away trip to West Ham United three days later.

Furthermore, Konate’s injury adds to a growing list for manager Arne Slot. Conor Bradley also suffered a hamstring problem late in the Real Madrid match, compounding an already challenging situation for the Reds. First-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker has been sidelined since early October with a hamstring injury, while Portuguese attacker Diogo Jota has missed five weeks due to an upper-body impact injury.

Elsewhere, summer signing Federico Chiesa has not played since September due to fitness concerns, and Kostas Tsimikas has been unavailable for the last two games with an ankle issue.

As Liverpool gear up for a demanding run of games, Arne Slot will need to rely on the depth of his squad to maintain momentum in both domestic and European competitions. Harvey Elliott has returned to the bench for the past two matches but has yet to feature competitively since August. Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold, recovering from a minor hamstring injury, was only fit enough for a substitute role in midweek after three weeks out. 

The return of key players like Alexander-Arnold offers some respite, but the Reds will need to manage resources carefully to navigate their congested schedule.

Manchester City Betting Preview (+245 at EveryGame)

Pep Guardiola’s side are enduring a torrid run of form. Their midweek Champions League clash against Feyenoord showcased their vulnerabilities. Despite taking a 3-0 lead by the 53rd minute, The Cityzens collapsed spectacularly, conceding three times in the final stage of the game to draw 3-3, with David Hancko sealing a memorable comeback for the Eredivisie giants.

Manchester City’s winless streak across all competitions stretched to six games—their longest drought in years—following a humbling 4-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last weekend. The loss leaves the defending champions teetering on the edge of the Premier League’s top four, with Arsenal, Chelsea, and Brighton just one point adrift (before this weekend’s round of games) and poised to capitalize on any further slip-ups from Pep Guardiola’s side.

While City have lost their last four away games, they continue to boast an impressive attacking record on the road, having scored in 26 consecutive away fixtures. Their last failure to net on rival turf came against Aston Villa a year ago. Additionally, City are unbeaten in their last four meetings with Liverpool, though Guardiola’s poor 32% win rate against the Reds (7 wins in 22 games) adds another layer of intrigue to this clash.

Guardiola continues to face significant injury concerns, with Rodri, Mateo Kovacic, and Oscar Bobb all ruled out as long-term absentees. On a positive note, Belgium playmaker Kevin De Bruyne has made recent appearances off the bench but remains short of full fitness, having only fully recovered from his injury in the past week. Ahead of City’s midweek Champions League draw, Guardiola emphasized that De Bruyne had completed just one full training session, making a starting role against Liverpool a calculated risk.

While Ruben Dias returned to the squad for the Feyenoord game, he did not feature, and John Stones was absent entirely, further limiting Guardiola’s defensive options. As a result, the City boss will largely rely on the same group of players for Sunday’s trip to Anfield, leaving little room for rotation.

In defense, Kyle Walker could return to the starting XI, but fitness concerns elsewhere make Josko Gvardiol, Manuel Akanji, and Nathan Ake likely certainties. Meanwhile, Ederson will retain his place between the posts.

In midfield, Guardiola may look to Ilkay Gündogan to anchor the lineup, thanks to the German’s intelligence and ability to operate effectively as a number six. A tactical reshuffle could also see Rico Lewis pushed further forward, a role Guardiola has assigned to the young talent on several occasions this season. This adjustment could leave Matheus Nunes, who started in midweek but has largely been deployed on the left in his limited Premier League appearances, on the bench.

With De Bruyne still building match fitness, Phil Foden is expected to retain a creative role in midfield, supported by the versatility and experience of Bernardo Silva. On the flanks, Jack Grealish is likely to get the nod as part of the attacking trio behind Erling Haaland, especially with Savinho struggling for consistency and Jeremy Doku just returning to training after his recent injury setback.

Possible Starting Lineups of Liverpool and Manchester City 

• Liverpool: Caoimhin Kelleher – Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson – Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister – Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Luis Díaz – Darwin Nunez. (4-2-3-1) 
• Manchester City: Ederson – Kyle Walker, Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake – Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, Matheus Nunes – Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish. (4-3-3) 

Spooky Express Betting Prediction 

Liverpool’s solid performances this season and Manchester City’s defensive instability suggest the Reds have the upper hand in this encounter. Guardiola’s side can still be counted on to find the net, but their recent struggles in high-pressure games could prove costly. Expect the Anfield crowd to inspire Slot’s men to a crucial win, dealing a severe blow to City’s title aspirations.

Spooky Express Free Play: Outcome and Totals – 1X (Liverpool or Draw) and Over 2.5 Goals +115 at EveryGame for 5/10 Units

Spooky Express Free Play 2: Mohamed Salah Anytime Goalscorer +135 at EveryGame for 5/10 Units