Liverpool face Manchester City on Sunday hoping to kickstart their Premier League run-in after a mini wobble in form. Two 2-2 draws against Everton and Aston Villa came either side of an underwhelming display in a 2-1 win over Wolves.
The Reds remain eight points clear of Arsenal but the Gunners will play a game more. The north Londoners also feature first this weekend and could temporarily close the gap by beating West Ham on Saturday.
Liverpool will hope to take advantage of City’s poor performances this season. In any other campaign, this might have been considered a title decider, but Pep Guardiola’s side could be 20 points behind their rivals by the end of the weekend.
Express Sport looks at the team Arne Slot may pick.
Liverpool predicted XI vs Manchester City (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper: Alisson
Alisson has kept only two clean sheets in 13 appearances against City. The Brazilian may hope he does not come up against Erling Haaland, with the Norwegian a doubt after sitting on the bench for the entirety of City’s 3-1 defeat against Real Madrid.
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson
Slot will surely pick the same back four to face City as he did against Villa. It would have been interesting to see whether Conor Bradley started ahead of Alexander-Arnold had the Northern Irishman not limped off on Wednesday night.
Alexander-Arnold is now guaranteed to start and could play his first 90 minutes since January 25.
Midfielders: Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai
It is unlikely that anyone could have predicted that Gravenberch and Mac Allister would be the regular midfield pairing of the team eight points clear in February. But here they are with a wonderful season under their belts.
Alexander-Arnold inverting into midfield gives Mac Allister the license to move forward.
Perhaps the only minor decision for Slot to make is who plays in the No. 10 position. The more technically gifted Szoboszlai will likely get the nod ahead of the more combative Jones with City struggling in possession. Liverpool could seek to dominate the ball.
Forwards: Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz
The only changes Slot might be tempted to make come in the forward line. Diaz was rested against Villa, used only as a substitute in the 66th minute. He could come in for Curtis Jones on the left.
Gakpo is a doubt for the game but the Liverpool boss insists he hopes the Dutch forward will be available. The Reds No. 18 will surely come in for Diogo Jota if he is fit enough to start against City.
There is no doubt that Salah will start. The Egyptian has scored 12 goals in 22 appearances against City – his fourth-best record against any club. He has only scored more against West Ham (13), Tottenham (15) and Manchester United (16).
