Liverpool – Manchester City: tense top-table showdown at Anfield
Two red cities, two English giants and a fixture that makes the whole country sit up. Sunday night, Anfield will host a fiery duel between Liverpool and Manchester City. The Reds go into this 25th round eight points behind Pep Guardiola’s side and four places lower in the table, but recent runs tell a similar story: one win, four draws and a defeat in their last six matches.
Liverpool: back to the big nights 
After a shaky start to 2026 in the league — four draws on the spin and then a thumping from Bournemouth — Liverpool finally got a grin back against Newcastle. Trailing to Anthony Gordon’s opener, Arne Slot’s side turned it around emphatically, powered by Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz in a 4-1 win.
Turning games around has become an Anfield trademark. Since 2024-25 began, the Reds have picked up 28 Premier League points after conceding first — the fourth-highest haul in the division.
The attack is humming. Fifteen goals in their last four outings across all competitions, including statement wins against Qarabag and Marseille in the Champions League and that Bournemouth scalp. It fuels European ambitions, even if the fight for the top five is tight: Liverpool start the weekend two points behind Manchester United and just behind Chelsea, with Brentford and Sunderland breathing down their neck.
Manchester City: doubt creeps in despite Wembley in sight 
For the Citizens, recent weeks haven’t been calm. Held by Tottenham in a dramatic 2-2 after leading — despite goals from Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo — City have dropped points in five of their last six league outings.
That slip hands advantage to Arsenal, who sit six points clear and could stretch the lead against Sunderland. Away form worries Pep: City haven’t won in their last three trips and have shipped at least two goals in each.
Still, the champions answered in the cup this week, beating Newcastle 3-1 in the EFL Cup semi second leg to secure a Wembley date with the Gunners. And with a 3-0 win at Anfield back in November, City can fancy the idea of completing a league double over the Reds.
Probable lineups
Liverpool :
Alisson ; Szoboszlai, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez ; Gravenberch, Mac Allister ; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo ; Ekitike
Manchester City :
Donnarumma ; Nunes, Guéhi, Aké, Aït-Nouri ; Rodri, O’Reilly ; Cherki, Reijnders, Semenyo ; Haaland
Football Predictions Liverpool vs Manchester City
Over 2.5 goals
Everything’s in place for an open, punchy game. Liverpool look a different team to the one blown away at the Etihad earlier in the season, while City have struggled away from home. With a revived Salah, a sparkling Wirtz and an Ekitike–Wirtz partnership that’s firing, the Reds have the ammunition to trade blows with Haaland and co. Expect sparks under the floodlights at Anfield.
_____
A quick word on our predictions
- What we publish on Mathodds are analyses, nothing more. We give an opinion, a read of the moment — not a promise. Sport is unpredictable. A red card, an injury, a freak goal… and the script flips.
- Let’s be blunt: there’s no bet without risk. Even when something looks “obvious”, it often isn’t. Yes, that means you can lose. It will happen at some point.
- Be sensible. Stake small, set a budget and stick to it. Don’t touch money you need to live on. And don’t chase losses — it rarely ends well.
- Betting should be entertainment, not a job or a revenue stream. If it’s taking over, stressing you or causing problems, take a break. If needed, contact a specialist organization — that’s what they’re for.
- Ultimately, responsibility lies with you. Reading our content means you accept the risk exists and always will, even with the best analysis.
- Essential reminder: betting is forbidden to minors and must comply with your local laws. Gambling can spiral (financial losses, family tension, addiction). Need help? Players Info Service: 09 74 75 13 13 (non-premium rate) • https://www.gambleaware.org/.
No legal guarantees
Our predictions are not a contract. They carry no legal weight. In plain terms: you can’t rely on them to make any claim if a bet loses.
Information can change
A prediction is based on what we know when we write it. Between then and kick-off, a lineup can change, a player can pick up an injury, the weather can turn… and the analysis can become outdated. We can’t be held responsible for that.
Your responsibility
Before you bet, check that gambling is legal where you live. If it isn’t, that’s your problem, not ours.
Responsible gambling first
We’ll keep saying it: gamble responsibly. If you struggle to control it, seek help sooner rather than later. We can’t be held accountable for compulsive or excessive use of the information published on the site.
Legal age
Mathodds content is for adults only. By browsing here you confirm you meet the legal age to gamble.
About the images
The images and logos on Mathodds, including those of Liverpool and Manchester City and linked to the Premier League, are used for illustration only. They don’t mean we have an official link with any federation or sports organization, and we claim no rights over them.
Those rights belong to the original creators. If, despite our checks, an image causes an issue, contact us and it will be removed immediately.
Our only aim with these visuals is to make the reading experience nicer. Nothing more. No commercial claim, no claiming someone else’s work.
Leave a Reply