Preview
When Manchester City and Liverpool square off in the Premier League derby on Saturday, there will be fireworks. Due to a minor injury, Erling Haaland was unable to play for Norway against Spain in their qualifying match. He should be healthy enough to take on the Reds. With the exception of Phil Foden, who is out due to an abdominal issue, the home team should be healthy.
While Jurgen Klopp’s team looks to bounce back from a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Bournemouth, anything less than a comfortable home victory would be a great surprise given their dismal road record (3-3-7) in the 2022–2023 English Premier League. Darwin Nunez has recovered from his injury, whereas Luis Diaz must work quickly to be ready for the derby. Manchester City is eight points behind Arsenal when the Premier League resumes play after the international break. With each passing week, they come closer to another failure to win three consecutive championships. The only thing Pep Guardiola can do is win his games and hope, even though Man City does have a game in hand over the Gunners and still needs to play them.
Form Guide: Manchester City
Man City goes into this game unbeaten in six games in the Premier League including a win over Arsenal but dropped points against Nottingham Forest just a few days later may prove costly. Guardiola will also be sweating over the fitness of Erling Haaland, who had to drop out of Norway’s squad for the international break due to injury.
City has exhibited some signs of tiredness as well, though not to the same degree as Liverpool. The champions are five points behind Arsenal following a slightly less consistent season than in recent years.
They did, however, enter the international break having defeated Burnley 6-0 in the FA Cup and scoring seven goals against RB Leipzig. It sounds worrying, and City can absolutely go on long-winning streaks.
Form Guide: Liverpool
Since Liverpool’s 7-0 demolition of Manchester United almost a month ago, the Reds’ fortunes haven’t exactly improved. In addition to being eliminated from the FA Cup and having their Premier League game postponed.
Liverpool was given a week off prior to the international break, giving them some additional time to nurse their wounds. Following their victory over Manchester United, Liverpool lost 1-0 to Bournemouth in the Premier League a week later.
A few days later, they lost 1-0 to Real Madrid and were eliminated from the Champions League. With two games remaining and a seven-point deficit to fourth-place Tottenham Hotspur, it does allow Liverpool to fully concentrate on their pursuit of a top-four finish.
How the game could go
This season, Liverpool will want to sweep Man City in the league, but Jurgen Klopp’s team will need to get over their early-kickoff sluggishness. The Reds have played five times on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Premier League kickoff, losing twice and drawing three times.
Liverpool failed to score four times, only scoring one, in a 2-2 tie with Fulham on the opening weekend, in all but one of the away games.
Liverpool is currently vying for a place in the Champions League as their season has taken a number of unexpected turns. In the standings, they are presently sixth.
Manchester City, on the other hand, is competing with Arsenal for the Premier League championship, thus a win over Liverpool will significantly advance their cause. Manchester City is eight points behind Arsenal with one game left.
Betting Predictions
Manchester City to win
On the other side, Man City is vying with Arsenal for the Premier League title, thus a victory over Liverpool will greatly help their cause. With one game remaining, Man City is eight points behind Arsenal.
As clear favorites going into this match, we anticipate Manchester City to press hard and score as soon as they can. To make life simpler in the second half, this squad prefers to score early and win the game in the first half. The primary factors will be Liverpool’s offensive difficulties and inconsistent defense. Bet9ja have 1.62 1xbet have 1.63 and Paripesa have 1.63 odds.
Over 2.5 Goals
Both teams must score at least three goals, and there must be goals from both teams. Only one of the last seven matches between these two clubs, both competitive and non-competitive, has ended without goals at both ends of the field, and that was Liverpool’s 1-0 victory at Anfield last year. Manchester City defeated Liverpool 3-2 in their most recent meeting in the League Cup, making that game the only one of their previous seven meetings to end without more than 2.5 goals being scored. Bet9ja have 1.63 odds, Paripesa have 1.72, and 1xbet have 1.72 odds.
Anytime Goalscorer (Manchester City)
Haaland
Erling Haaland is questionable to play against Liverpool. Haaland sustained the injury during the weekend’s FA Cup victory over Burnley, where he was substituted after half-time adding another hat-trick. After joining the Norwegian team, he withdrew early in the week. If fit we expect Pep to use him and he could get on the goals easily. Bet9ja have 1.68 odds for him to score while Paripesa have 1.70.
Mahrez
Riyad Mahrez hasn’t scored a lot of goals for Man City this season, just 5 in the Premier League so far but he is so often a player for the big occasions and they don’t come much bigger than Man City vs Liverpool. We expect Mahrez to return to the starting eleven this weekend after he remained on the bench for City’s 1-0 win at Crystal Palace. We’re backing the Algerian international to score against Klopp’s men on Saturday. Bet9ja have 3.60 odds for him to score while Paripesa have 3.10.
Anytime Goalscorer (Liverpool)
Salah
When he scored in the 7-0 thumping of Manchester United, Mo Salah generated a lot of buzzes. Salah has scored in each of the three games this season despite his record against the blue half of Manchester not being quite as strong as it is versus United. Bet9ja have 3.40 odds for him to score while Paripesa have 3.40 odds.
Football Lover. All-round junkie of the beautiful game. Could be found watching football most of the time. If not he’s writing about them or making some punditry you don’t agree with. A certain bias for Arsenal and Santos FC.
