Liverpool are back home to host Manchester City on Sunday following a series of unfortunate results for the Reds, after losing 2 of their last 3 games and they will be looking to return to winning ways after those three winless games.

The top-of-the-table clash is Liverpool’s last in a very busy month packed with extremely tough games including a home game against PSG, a trip to Stamford Bridge and Napoli away.

Liverpool have slowed down a bit after their electric start to the campaign, winning only 2 of their last 5 in all competitions. However, with an unbeaten run in the Premier League as of yet, the Reds are still considered genuine title contenders.

The last time the two sides met ended 2-1 in Liverpool’s favour. The game was the second leg of the Champions League Quarter Final which saw Manchester City out of the Champions League 5-1 on aggregate.

1. Our opponents:

Manchester City have won 4 of their last 5 games, scoring a staggering 13 goals on conceding only 3. City are currently 1st in the Premier League only ahead of Liverpool on goal difference.

Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is ruled out of the game with a hamstring injury sustained in City’s Champions League clash with Hoffenheim in midweek. Benjamin Mendy and Fabian Delph are both unavailable.

Star player Kevin De Bruyne has returned to training for the visitors following a lengthy knee injury, but he is unlikely to feature on Sunday due to fitness problems.

2. Team news:

Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita was taken to hospital in Napoli a few days ago after being stretchered off in the 20th minute of the game due to a back problem.

Adam Lallana is back in full training and Dejan Lovren, who had returned to training last week, could be fit to start or at least make the bench against City. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Rhian Brewster remain long-term absentees.

3. Predicted lineup:

4. What the boss had to say:

On Keita’s injury:

I’m not 100 per cent sure yet. Back spasm. We have to wait a bit. He will be in today, but I don’t know if he can do something. Didn’t look too serious, so there’s a chance but we don’t know.

On Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain:

Oxlade-Chamberlain is not to be replaced, that is key. I cannot think about him at the moment unfortunately. We had similar situations with these little runs, in between winning the ball and being spot on. We are desperate to have him back, better sooner than later.

On Milner:

When he looks back on his career he will think about the season he played at left-back when he learned a lot about football. I was completely open. He was not in, he was still with England, but after that it was clear he was a very versatile player. When people say it’s a workhorse it’s a compliment – he is naturally fit, and athlete.

On beating City:

We beat City three times last season and not once after any of those games did we go into the dressing room and think ‘now we know how to beat them’.

On Salah’s form:

Expectation changed that’s normal, he set a new standard. Nobody expected 10 goals after five, six, seven games. Each striker could write a book about these moments, scoring without knowing how. It’s so rare. 98% of a striker is the hardest work, 2% is the easy going stuff. The only thing which has changed is the kind of questions you have asked. It was a surprise, now it isn’t. That’s the world. If I win games, I know everything. If I lose three in a row, I know nothing. Both are not true. I’m relaxed about that.

On City’s form:

We will analyse after the press conference but Pep said they are playing better. How can I say something different? It’s not for me to compare. An outstanding side, that’s obvious, I’m not the right person to talk about anything else.

Full press conference:

5. Opta match facts:

Liverpool are unbeaten in 17 home matches against Man City in all competitions (W12 D5) since losing 2-1 at Anfield in the Premier League in May 2003.

Both Liverpool and Man City are unbeaten in their opening seven Premier League games this season – this is the latest meeting between two unbeaten sides in the competition since 2011-12 when Man City and Newcastle met in their 12th game of the season.

Liverpool have kept a clean sheet in each of their last eight Premier League home games – only in February 2007 (nine games) have they had a longer such run in the competition.

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 24 home league games, the longest current run in the Premier League (W16 D8).

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has had a hand in five goals in his three games against Man City for the Reds in all competitions in 2018 (3 goals, 2 assists), scoring a goal in each match.

Man City boss Pep Guardiola has lost more matches in all competitions against Jurgen Klopp (7) than he has against any other manager, losing three times against Borussia Dortmund and four times against Liverpool.

Liverpool’s Sadio Mane has scored four Premier League goals against Manchester City – only against Crystal Palace (6) does he have more in the competition.

6. LFC Matchday Image:

@ndashmu