Liverpool host Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday afternoon, with City playing for the first time since an independent commission found them guilty of breaching the Premier League’s financial rules.
The club have lodged an appeal and continue to deny wrongdoing. City lead the table with five wins from five and a goal difference of plus eight, while Liverpool are sixth and unbeaten (W2 D3). This is the first meeting since Andoni Iraola replaced Arne Slot and Enzo Maresca succeeded Pep Guardiola. City won all three meetings with Liverpool in 2025-26, including 2-1 at Anfield in February.
Liverpool vs Manchester City – Match preview and team news
- Date: Sunday, 11 October 2026
- Kick-off: 16:30 BST
- Venue: Anfield
- Referee: Chris Kavanagh
- VAR: Paul Howard
- Last meeting: Manchester City 4-0 Liverpool, FA Cup quarter-final, 4 April 2026
Team news
Liverpool
Alexander Isak (thigh) and Cody Gakpo (ankle) will miss the match, Iraola confirmed. Hugo Ekitike (Achilles), Conor Bradley (knee) and Giovanni Leoni (knee) are also out. Jeremy Jacquet is fit after a minor injury scare on international duty with France, and Bradley Barcola is expected to lead the attack.
Manchester City
Phil Foden completes a three-game domestic suspension. Nico O’Reilly (knock) and Antoine Semenyo (ankle) are doubts, and neither was addressed at Maresca’s press conference. Maresca confirmed Erling Haaland is fit after he limped off for Norway against Portugal.
Form
Liverpool
Liverpool are unbeaten in the league (W2 D3) and have won four of their last five games in all competitions. They won 1-0 at Bournemouth before the break, following a goalless draw with Fulham at Anfield. Isak, who is out, scored four of their seven league goals.
Manchester City
City are the only side with a perfect record, with five wins from five, 13 goals scored and five conceded. They beat Sunderland 5-3 on 20 September, despite a hat-trick from Brian Brobbey, after a 1-0 win at Manchester United. Haaland has scored five league goals, and City have also won their opening Champions League and EFL Cup ties.
Predicted lineups
Liverpool predicted XI: Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Munoz; Barcola
Manchester City predicted XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Guehi, Dias, Gvardiol; Fernandez, Anderson; Ndiaye, Cherki, Doku; Haaland
How to watch Liverpool vs Manchester City?
The match will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports.
Read more – Major Erling Haaland injury update ahead of Liverpool vs Man City
See also – Liverpool dealt double injury blow ahead of Man City clash