Liverpool vs Manchester City Prediction: Dan suggests Hugo for this 10/3 shot

Liverpool host Manchester City at Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday (16:30, live on Sky Sports Main Event) and our very own Dan Tracey is on-hand to preview the heavyweight clash.

Read on for his Liverpool vs Manchester City predictions, complete with the latest team news and match odds.

In seasons gone by, a meeting between Liverpool and Manchester City would have been billed as a heavyweight title bout. Their upcoming meeting feels more like two punch drunk fighters trying to land one final knockout before the end of their careers. In other words, the status of both has slipped somewhat.

The outgoing defending Premier League champions versus the former perennial title holder. The former hitting the canvas far too many times across the autumn and winter. The latter losing on points all too often. That is enough of the boxing parlance though, it is time to look ahead to Sunday’s clash at Anfield.

Liverpool vs Manchester City Odds

Liverpool are priced as favourites 13/10 to win this game, with Manchester City the underdogs at 9/5. That gives the home team an implied win probability of 43.5% while a draw can be backed at 3/1.

BTTS has been priced at 8/15 and over 2.5 goals is 4/7, while Erling Haaland is favourite to open the scoring at 7/2.

Team News

After their impressive win over Newcastle last Saturday, it is likely to be a case of as you were for Liverpool this Sunday. With right back personnel being a constant issue, Hungarian international Dominik Szoboszlai will be tasked with starting in that position but will be given license to roam forward when needed.

Which means he will be on hand to create a right-hand channel of attacking play with Mohammed Salah. Could this be the last time that the Egyptian king faces Manchester City at Anfield, it has seemingly been a personal duel these past couple of years, the 33-year-old will want to win what could be the final battle.

As for Manchester City, manager Pep Guardiola will have to decide where to start Nico O’Reilly. Comfortable in midfield or defence, the 20-year-old was played in front of Rayan Ait-Nouri in the 2-2 draw with Tottenham last weekend. He may be pushed further back for the trip to Anfield.

The reason being that Tijani Reijnders has made a strong case for selection after scoring in the Carabao Cup win over Newcastle in midweek. The Dutch midfielder has scored five Premier League goals this season and with the extra creativity that he offers, it is likely to see him given the nod on Sunday.

Predicted Lineups

• Liverpool: Allison; Szoboszlai, van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.
• Manchester City: Donnarumma; Nunes, Guehi, Khusanov, O’Reilly; Rodri; Cherki, Reijnders, Foden, Semenyo; Haaland.

Liverpool vs Manchester City Stats

• · Liverpool are undefeated in 26 of their last 27 home matches against Manchester City in all competitions
• · Liverpool have seen under 2.5 goals in their last 3 home matches against Manchester City in all competitions

Hugo Ekitike to score anytime @ 23/20

It is fair to say that Liverpool have not got a talisman this season but it is also fair to say that their goalscoring approach has been more holistic in recent weeks. A wider spread of names getting on the scoresheet, that in itself being a huge help to Arne Slot’s ongoing stress as manager of the club.

With that said, one of the most recurring names of the past week or so has been Hugo Ekitike. The former Eintracht Frankfurt forward scored in the 6-0 win over Qarabag in the Champions League and also bagged a brace against Newcastle last weekend. He’s as hot as he has been all season and I am backing him to find the net at home to Manchester City.

Draw & over 1.5 goals @ 10/3

When it comes to meetings between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield, the former of the two outfits very rarely lose. In fact, they have lost just one of their last 27 meetings – a record that is incredibly hard to ignore before the latest skirmish takes place. Hard to ignore but also hard to see Arne Slot’s men coming out on top.

Which means although both teams look at this game as a must-win encounter – albeit for slightly different reasons, that usually means a cancellation of forces, stalemate the only winner on Merseyside. A result that arguably does neither side any real favours but as long as they avoid the 0-0 draw, it will be favourable to anyone following this tip.

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