Liverpool welcome Manchester City to Anfield on Sunday afternoon with the visitors’ unblemished Premier League record on the line and the turbulence surrounding the Etihad showing no sign of easing.
Round six of the Premier League season sends Enzo Maresca’s side to Merseyside as the only team in the division with five wins from five. They have scored 13 goals and conceded five, signing off before the international break with a 5-3 defeat of Sunderland at the Etihad, following a 5-0 Carabao Cup rout of Norwich. Erling Haaland already has five league goals to his name.
Off the pitch, the past few weeks have been the most unsettled in the club’s modern history. An independent commission found City guilty of 114 of the 115 charges relating to breaches of financial regulations. The club is appealing, but the cloud hanging over the Etihad is not going anywhere, and Anfield is expected to make its feelings known.
Liverpool, meanwhile, remain unbeaten under Andoni Iraola, though their opening has been steady rather than spectacular. Two wins and three draws leave them sixth on nine points, six behind City, and victory here would lift them into the top four.
They have won four of their last five in all competitions, a run that includes a 3-1 EFL Cup win over Tottenham and a 1-0 success at Bournemouth before the break.
In his first season at Anfield, Iraola has had to absorb a punishing international break. Two of his most important attackers are missing, and he will need his other big money recruits to deliver in the biggest game of his Liverpool tenure so far.
“It’s an exciting game, at home at Anfield against the league leaders, who have won all their games,” Iraola said. “They will go for it, so will we. We have to be ready and help our supporters.”
Liverpool will be without Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo, both injured while on international duty. Isak, who has four league goals this season, has a thigh problem, while Gakpo is nursing an ankle injury. Neither is expected to be sidelined long term.
Hugo Ekitike also remains unavailable, leaving Iraola short of options up front. He must choose between handing a start to youngster Lewis Koumas or shifting winger Bradley Barcola into a more central role.
There is better news defensively. Jeremy Jacquet, who made his France debut during the break, is fit to feature.
For City, Phil Foden serves the final match of a three game suspension following his red card in the Manchester derby. Haaland is fit, as is Antoine Semenyo, while Nico O’Reilly is a doubt after withdrawing from the England squad.
Expected teams
Liverpool: Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Barcola, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Koumas
Manchester City: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol; Fernandez, Anderson; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku; Haaland
Form and key statistics
City are the only Premier League side with a perfect record, having won all five league matches, scoring 13 and conceding five. Liverpool are unbeaten in the league this term, with two wins and three draws, sitting sixth on nine points.
A Liverpool victory would cut the gap to City to three points and could move them into the top four. Iraola’s men have won four of their last five matches in all competitions, while Haaland has five Premier League goals this season. City won 2-1 at Anfield in this fixture last season.
Where to watch
Kick off is at 4:30pm BST on Sunday, October 11 at Anfield, with Chris Kavanagh as referee. In the UK, the match is live on Sky Sports, with streaming available via Sky Go. In the United States, it is on NBC and Peacock from 11:30am ET. Global broadcast details can be found at premierleague.com.
City have the chance to keep their flawless start intact while the scrutiny over the club’s finances continues, and a win in front of their own supporters would carry Liverpool into the top four and trim the deficit at the summit to three points.