There is no doubt what the headliner fixture of the weekend is in the Premier League as both table toppers square off at Anfield. Liverpool have won three of their last four overall against Manchester City, eliminating them from the UEFA Champions League in the quarterfinal round last spring and ending their massive undefeated streak during a winter league fixture.
Do they have what it takes to get it done again here? Well, the Reds haven’t looked so hot lately, as they’ll head into this one winless in their last three. That’s a bit of a drop off as they started league play a perfect six for six, taking all three points from their first six matches.
The last team to drop points in the league this season, they do have some injury concerns for this fixture, mostly in the midfield.
Naby Keita was hospitalized overnight following the loss to Napoli in the UEFA Champions League. He was stretchered off after just 16 minutes of action due to a back problem. He has since been discharged from the hospital, but flew home to Liverpool by himself, and not with the rest of his teammates, as it had been hoped. The doctors gave him a clean bill hill of health, dismissing the earlier reports that claimed he had suffered cardiac issues.
His back problems aren’t severe either, as his MRI and CT scans were clear. He has not been ruled out of this fixture, but it is likely he could be rested. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remains a long term absentee, while another player who has missing for a long time, Adam Lallana, has returned to training but very likely will not feature.
On the other side, the main storyline is Belgian Kevin De Bruyne, who returned to training this week after having spent several weeks out of commission due to the ligament damage he suffered back in August.
He didn’t travel with the team to Hoffenheim in midweek, and thus likely won’t feature here.
Defender Benjamin Mendy has missed the past few matches due to a foot injury, while reserve goalkeeper Claudio Bravo is unavailable, due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Manchester City Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Liverpool Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Weekly manager press conference videos: coming tomorrow
Kickoff Time/TV: Sunday October 7, 4:30 pm, Sky Sports
Odds via Paddy Power: Manchester City 13/8 Draw 5/2 Liverpool 6/4
Prediction: Liverpool 4, Manchester City 3
Feel free to post your own City and/or Liverpool starting XI predictions, as well as your best guess as to what the final score will be. Enjoy the match!
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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