Football preview: Manchester City vs Liverpool
Football writer Adrian Clarke identifies the key players, team tactics and where matches could be won and lost in Matchweek 26.
Match analysis: Manchester City vs Liverpool
Liverpool will aim to produce an authoritative away performance to get their title charge back on track with a victory over Man City this Sunday.
Unbeaten on the road this season – and having lost only six of 23 matches against Pep Guardiola’s City – the Reds will feel confident despite their recent wobbles, in which they have dropped points in their last two away matches.
The reigning champions will be no pushover though, if they can replicate the quality shown in a resounding 4-0 home success against Newcastle United last weekend.
Marmoush or Salah to reign supreme?
Who will shine brightest at the Etihad Stadium – the Egyptian King or his heir apparent?
On the back of scoring a hat-trick in his last home outing, Omar Marmoush, 26, will certainly back himself to outshine his compatriot. Like Mohamed Salah, City’s January signing is a relatively low-touch player with a penchant for ruthless efficiency inside the final third.
They both identify space expertly, moving into those pockets with intelligence, before firing shots at goal. However, Salah enjoys most of his involvements inside the right corner of the box, while Marmoush drifts central a little bit more regularly.
If Erling Haaland is unavailable, we may see Marmoush and Savinho used as split strikers. City experimented with this in the 3-1 loss at Real Madrid, and although neither man made a big impression, it could be their best short-term solution.
Salah has been involved in 13 goals against Guardiola’s City (eight goals, five assists), the most of any player against the Spaniard’s side. In the form of his life, with eight goals and three assists in his last seven appearances in all competitions, it would actually be a surprise if Salah does not make another significant contribution.
Could a key defender be the potential match winner?
Virgil van Dijk and Josko Gvardiol will have plenty on their plate from a defensive perspective. Liverpool’s towering centre-back will resume his heavyweight rivalry with Haaland (fitness permitting), while City’s left-back has the unenviable task of trying to shackle Salah.
How they fare in those duels is sure to influence the outcome, yet it is their threat inside the opposition penalty box which could prove just as decisive. Both are ranked inside the Premier League’s top three for headed shots from defenders.
Van Dijk missed a trio of gilt-edged opportunities from set-pieces in the last meeting at Anfield. City could not handle his runs, and the Dutchman will be eager to make amends. Gvardiol, meanwhile, is the division’s highest-scoring defender on five, with two strikes coming from set-plays.
Who will press to greater effect?
Both Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola set their teams up to make the pitch feel small when they do not have possession, and conversely, they aim to stretch it as wide as possible when they have the ball.
Liverpool used their pressing to great effect when forcing an aggressive turnover that led to Luis Diaz being brought down by Stefan Ortega for the penalty that made it 2-0 in the previous meeting. City are equally capable of creating chances through their own aggressive pressing, and a lengthy switch pass to Salah opened up the pitch brilliantly, allowing him to cross for Cody Gakpo to score.
Finishing will also play a crucial role. In just six Premier League matches in 2025, Man City have scored 20 goals from only 81 shots, producing a league-high conversion rate of 24.7 per cent. Liverpool have played two extra matches in 2025, scoring three less goals than City, with a conversion rate of 12.4 per cent during the same period.
Key Stat:
- Man City’s shot conversion in 2025: 24.7%
- Liverpool’s shot conversion in 2025: 12.4%
This encounter promises to be a thrilling clash between two of the Premier League’s heavyweights. The outcome could hinge on the performances of the Egyptian forwards, the towering center-backs, and the teams’ pressing abilities.
