Preview: Manchester City vs. Liverpool

23:23 08/11/2020

Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan; Mahrez, Jesus, Sterling

Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Gomez, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane; Jota

Manchester City host Liverpool in matchday 8 of the Premier League on Sunday 8th November, 4:30pm at Etihad Stadium. The hosts currently sit in 12th place in the table having beaten Sheffield United 0-1 last time out, while the visitors are in 2nd after their 2-1 win against West Ham United.

The standout Premier League fixture of gameweek eight sees Manchester City welcome champions Liverpool to the Etihad Stadium in a battle between the top two from the past two seasons.

Man City go into this showdown sitting 10th whereas Liverpool have reassumed their position at the top of the table, but only five points separate the two sides and Man City also boast a game in hand, so victory on Sunday would see them move within striking distance of their title rivals.

Man City will once again be without club-record scorer Sergio Aguero, who is not expected back from his hamstring injury until after the international break.

Jesus is in contention to start after his goalscoring return off the bench in midweek, though, and that could see him displace Ferran Torres in the side despite the summer signing's impressive performances of late.

Fernandinho and Benjamin Mendy also remain sidelined for the hosts, but Guardiola was able to rest a number of players who are expected to come back into the starting XI for this one in midweek.

Rodri, Aymeric Laporte and Dias are among those likely to return, while Joao Cancelo's goal off the bench could be enough to earn him a start at left-back in the absence of Mendy.

Liverpool, meanwhile, will again be without Thiago Alcantara as he misses a sixth straight match as a result of the knee injury he sustained in the Merseyside derby.

Van Dijk, Fabinho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also remain sidelined, but Klopp brushed off minor concerns over the fitness of Jota following a knock in midweek.

The summer signing from Wolves has been knocking on the door for a more regular start, and his Champions League hat-trick has taken him to six goals in his last four games for the club.

That form could make him undroppable for this match, leaving Klopp with a decision to make about whether he keeps Roberto Firmino out of the team or switches to a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Joel Matip is ready to return at the back and should come straight into the team alongside Joe Gomez, although Phillips and Rhys Williams have done their chances of further first-team football this season no harm at all in recent matches.