Manchester City vs Liverpool Match Analysis and Prediction

Manchester City vs Liverpool Match Analysis & Prediction

Manchester City

22/12/2022 11:00 pm

Liverpool

by Vincent

5 months ago 0 86

DISCLAIMER: All odds are quoted at time the prediction went live. Check the sports book for updated odds

The latest edition of the Manchester City-Liverpool battle for supremacy takes place at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday, as the English powerhouses meet in the fourth round of the EFL Cup.

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While the Citizens eliminated Chelsea from the competition to progress to the fourth round, the Reds needed penalties to defeat Derby County in round three.

The EFL Cup has been something of a customary prize for Guardiola since he arrived in Manchester, but the English champions have bigger fish to fry as they aim to dethrone surprise package Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.

Just three days had passed between their 2-0 EFL Cup third-round success over Chelsea and the Ivan Toney-inflicted nightmare at the Etihad, and Guardiola’s depleted side have only tested their mettle in one winter friendly, beating Girona 2-0.

Winners of the EFL Cup four years in a row between 2018 and 2021, Manchester City were memorably eliminated from the tournament on penalties by West Ham United in the fourth round last year, and their Merseyside opponents have already proven their penalty-kick prowess in this year’s edition.

Liverpool grabbed their golden ticket with both hands to defeat Chelsea on penalties in the final, and a battle of nerves from 12 yards was required to settle their third-round tie with Derby County after an Anfield stalemate.

That shootout victory would mark the third of four consecutive competitive wins for the Reds before the World Cup break, and Klopp’s crop cempeted in the four-team Dubai Super Cup over the break, losing 3-1 to Lyon before beating AC Milan 4-1, although they lost both penalty shootouts for an extra point at the end of the contests.

Liverpool will now be aiming to avoid just a second fourth-round exit in the EFL Cup since the turn of the millennium, having most recently been overcome at this point by Arsenal in the 2020-21 edition – coincidentally on penalties.

The Reds put an early dent in Manchester City’s title hopes with a 1-0 victory at Anfield in the Premier League two months ago, although Liverpool’s success was marred by unsavoury scenes in the crowd.

Manchester City vs. Liverpool Head to head

These two teams have previously met on 175 occasions across all competitions, where City have claimed 47 victories while Liverpool have won 83, and they have drawn in 45. Liverpool have scored 303 goals and conceded 241. In their last five meetings, Liverpool have won three with two draws.

03/10/2021

Liverpool

2

Manchester City

2

Premier League
10/04/2022

Manchester City

2

Liverpool

2

Premier League
16/04/2022

Manchester City

2

Liverpool

3

FA Cup
30/07/2022

Liverpool

3

Manchester City

1

Community Shield
16/10/2022

Liverpool

1

Manchester City

0

Premier League

Manchester City Team News

German international Ilkay Gundogan returned in time to start against Girona alongside Erling Braut Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne.

Kyle Walker, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, John Stones, Kalvin Phillips, Ederson, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva and Joao Cancelo may be spared for Manchester City’s league trip to Leeds United on December 28.

Manchester City's Last 5 Matches

02/11/2022

Manchester City

3

Sevilla

1

Champions League
05/11/2022

Manchester City

2

Fulham

1

Premier League
09/11/2022

Manchester City

2

Chelsea

0

EFL Cup
12/11/2022

Manchester City

1

Brentford

2

Premier League
17/12/2022

Manchester City

2

Girona

0

Club Friendlies

Liverpool Team News

Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate will return with a runner-up medal, and Klopp has played down the possibility of Virgil van Dijk returning for this contest.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho have been put through their paces in training and could be involved in some capacity against the Citizens.