Man Cityvs.Liverpool

Haaland picked up a knee injury in the closing stages of City's 4-0 win over Newcastle last weekend and was subsequently unable to feature in the Citizens' 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League playoff on Wednesday, losing 6-3 on aggregate.

The Norwegian watched on as an unused substitute in the Spanish capital, but he has been left out of City's squad entirely for their encounter with Liverpool, as Pep Guardiola has made a total of four changes to the side that lost to Real Madrid.

Goalkeeper Ederson retains his place between the sticks, while Rico Lewis and Nathan Ake are recalled in defence to start alongside Abdukodir Khusanov and Josko Gvardiol. Ruben Dias and the injured John Stones make way.

After watching on as an unused substitute in City's last two matches, captain Kevin De Bruyne returns to the starting lineup and is set to link arms in midfield with new signing Nico Gonzalez, who is handed his third successive start for the Citizens.

Jeremy Doku is the final player to be restored to Guardiola's first XI and will likely begin on the left flank, as Savinho operates on the right, Phil Foden plays in the number 10 role and Omar Marmoush leads the line.

Diaz replaces Jota in Liverpool XI, Gakpo fit to make the bench

As for Liverpool, Arne Slot has made just the one change to the side that played out a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on Wednesday night.

Diogo Jota is replaced by Luis Diaz and will partner Mohamed Salah in attack, while Slot has decided to stick with Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch in midfield, with the former expected to regularly link up with Diaz and Salah in attack.

A back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold - who scored in midweek along with Salah - Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson remains intact, protecting goalkeeper Alisson Becker.

Liverpool have been boosted by the return of Cody Gakpo to their matchday squad, although the Dutchman, who scored in the 2-0 win over Man City at Anfield earlier this season, is only fit to make the substitutes' bench.

Manchester City starting lineup: Ederson; Lewis, Khusanov, Ake, Gvardiol; Gonzalez, De Bruyne; Savinho, Foden, Doku; Marmoush

Subs: Ortega, Dias, Kovacic, Grealish, Gundogan, Bernardo, Reis, Nunes, McAtee

Liverpool starting lineup: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones; Szoboszlai; Diaz, Salah

Subs: Kelleher, Endo, Nunez, Chiesa, Gakpo, Elliott, Jota, Tsimikas, Quansah

Written by

Oliver Thomas