Liverpool vs Manchester City: Predicted Line-up and Injury News

Liverpool host Manchester City at Anfield in one of the biggest fixtures of the Premier League weekend, with the meeting carrying enormous significance both on and off the pitch.

City arrive on Merseyside looking to maintain their perfect start to the league season, having won their opening five matches. Liverpool, meanwhile, remain unbeaten but have dropped points in three of their first five games and will be desperate to close the gap on the league leaders.

The fixture has taken on an even greater significance following the recent independent commission ruling against Manchester City over financial-rule breaches. City deny wrongdoing and have appealed the decision, but the controversy is expected to provide an explosive backdrop to an already fierce rivalry.

With both sides dealing with injury concerns following the international break, selection decisions could prove crucial as Liverpool attempt to halt City's winning run.

Fixture: Liverpool vs Manchester City

Date: Sunday, October 11, 2026

Venue: Anfield, Liverpool

Kick-off: 4:30pm BST (Monday, October 12, at 2:30am AEDT)

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola faces a difficult selection headache after losing several attacking players to injury during the international break.

Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo are both expected to miss the clash, while Hugo Ekitike also remains unavailable. The absence of three forwards leaves Liverpool short of established attacking options against the league leaders.

Isak suffered a thigh injury while representing Sweden, while Gakpo picked up an ankle problem on international duty with the Netherlands. Neither injury is expected to be long-term, but their absence comes at a particularly frustrating time for Liverpool.

Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are also sidelined, while Federico Chiesa remains a doubt with a back issue.

Alisson is expected to start in goal, with Araujo, Van Dijk, Jacquet and Kerkez forming the defensive line. Jacquet has reportedly recovered from the hamstring problem that forced him to miss France's final Nations League fixture.

Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai are likely to provide the midfield balance, combining defensive protection with the ability to progress the ball quickly into attacking areas.

The major question is how Liverpool arrange their forward line.

Barcola could be asked to operate as a makeshift centre-forward, while Wirtz and Ngumoha offer creativity, movement and pace around him, or Wirtz could start up top with Barcola and Ngumoha off the wings.

The trio will need to make the most of any opportunities against a City defence that has looked increasingly settled during the opening weeks of the campaign.

Liverpool will hope the atmosphere at Anfield can help compensate for their depleted frontline, particularly if they can pressure City early and force the visitors into defensive mistakes.

Manchester City arrive with considerably more attacking depth, although manager Enzo Maresca must still manage several fitness and selection concerns.

Donnarumma is expected to continue in goal, with Dias and Guehi forming the central defensive partnership. Nunes is likely to start at right-back, while Gvardiol is expected to feature on the opposite side.

In midfield, Fernandez and Anderson should provide the platform for City's attacking players. Both have quickly become important components of Maresca's system, with their ability to control possession and progress the ball likely to be particularly important at Anfield.

Cherki is expected to operate in the attacking midfield role, where his creativity and ability to beat defenders could cause significant problems for Liverpool.

Semenyo is a doubt after withdrawing from Ghana duty with an ankle issue, although reports indicate he returned to training before the match. His availability will be one of the key selection decisions for City. Nico O'Reilly is also a doubt after withdrawing from England duty with a knock.

Phil Foden, meanwhile, remains suspended following his red card in the Manchester derby and will miss the match.

If Semenyo is fit enough to start, he could provide the direct running and physicality City need to stretch Liverpool's defence. Ndiaye offers another attacking threat, while Haaland will lead the line as City's main source of goals.

Haaland has started the season strongly and will be eager to exploit any defensive uncertainty in a Liverpool side missing several regular players.

The build-up to the fixture has been dominated by the independent commission's findings against Manchester City over Premier League financial regulations.

City have denied wrongdoing and launched an appeal, with any eventual punishment dependent on the outcome of that process.

The timing is significant given Liverpool's role as one of City's closest challengers during much of the past decade.

Liverpool supporters have watched their club compete with City for major honours through several closely contested title races. The latest developments have inevitably reignited debate about the competitive balance of the Premier League during that period.

The issue is likely to add another layer of intensity to the atmosphere at Anfield, although Maresca has sought to keep his players focused on football rather than the off-field noise.

For Liverpool, the challenge is to turn that atmosphere into a genuine sporting advantage. An early goal or a strong opening spell could place City under considerable pressure.

For the visitors, the task is to demonstrate that the controversy will not derail their pursuit of another league title.

Liverpool's home advantage and City's off-field controversy make this a fascinating encounter, but the visitors' perfect league record means they will arrive with confidence.

The Reds have enough quality to trouble City, particularly if they can press aggressively and force turnovers in midfield. However, their attacking injuries leave little room for error.

City possess the greater depth in forward areas, and Haaland's availability gives them a clear attacking focal point. If Cherki can find space behind Liverpool's midfield, the visitors have the potential to exploit the hosts' defensive shape.

Liverpool's best route to victory may be to turn the match into a high-intensity contest rather than allow City to dominate possession for long periods.

City, on the other hand, will aim to control the tempo, draw Liverpool out of position and attack the spaces that emerge.

With the financial controversy providing an extraordinary backdrop, the match has the potential to become one of the defining fixtures of the early Premier League season.

For Liverpool, victory would send a statement that they remain genuine title contenders despite their injury problems. For City, three points would extend their perfect start and reinforce their position at the top of the table.

Prediction: Liverpool 1–1 Manchester City.

Liverpool's home support should make this a difficult afternoon for City, but the visitors' attacking options are a scary prospect. With Liverpools key attacking injuries City will be favourites, but with this scandal hanging over them it's impossible to say how they will be effected, so I am sitting on the fence in this one.