Liverpool v Man City predictions: Anfield ghosts could come back to haunt City

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Liverpool v Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event/Premier League, 4.30pm Sunday

Best bet

Liverpool draw no bet
1pt Evs general

Team news

Liverpool
Trent Alexander-Arnold (muscle strain) has joined Harvey Elliott and Thiago on the sidelines.

Manchester City
Ilkay Gundogan and Oleksandr Zinchenko missed out against Paris St-Germain and are doubts.

Match preview

Liverpool set an unwanted record in the 2020-21 campaign by losing six home games for the first time in a Premier League season but they have looked more at ease since the return of fans.

The Reds were beaten 4-1 at home by Sunday's opponents Manchester City in February when the champions took advantage of playing in an empty stadium - something totally opposed to the cauldron-like atmosphere they will encounter at Anfield this time around.

Prior to last season's win City had taken one point from their previous seven visits to Anfield, and given their poor record at the venue it is hard to understand why they are favourites for this Sunday's contest.

City have the ability to win at any stadium in the world, as they showed last Saturday when cruising to a 1-0 success over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. But they often struggled in big away games before the start of the pandemic - losing on three of their four league trips to big-six opponents prior to the the first lockdown.

Apart from having to deal with a passionate home crowd, Pep Guardiola must also be mindful of player fatigue as he prepares his troops for a third tough away game in nine days.

Nine players started the Chelsea and Paris St-Germain matches, including Kevin De Bruyne, who had not made a Premier League start in four months before to his selection at Stamford Bridge.

There was not much wrong with City's performance against PSG which could have yielded maximum points had they shown a more clinical touch in front of goal. But it was the fifth time in the last 11 competitive games that they had failed to score and provided further ammunition for their critics who insist that the lack of a genuine centre-forward may undermine their challenge for trophies.

Liverpool had no such problems in the Champions League this week as Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino both scored twice in a 5-1 romp away to Porto.

However, the midweek win was achieved without injured right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is not expected to return until after the upcoming international break.

Alexander-Arnold is the best attacking full-back in the country – assisting 34 league goals since the start of the 2018-19 season – but he can be caught out defensively and his deputy, James Milner, may be better suited to coping with City danger man Jack Grealish.

Liverpool had been defending very well until last Saturday's pulsating 3-3 draw at Brentford and a more focused performance can give them the foundations to overcome City and announce themselves as serious title challengers.

Key stat

Liverpool have won six of their last eight Premier League home games against Manchester City.

Inside info

Liverpool

Penalty taker Mohamed Salah
Free-kick wizard Andy Robertson
Set-piece aerial threat Virgil van Dijk
Card magnet Fabinho

Manchester City

Penalty taker Kevin De Bruyne
Free-kick wizardKevin De Bruyne
Set-piece aerial threatAymeric Laporte
Card magnetRodri

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