PREVIEW: Man City vs Liverpool

It's been one of the main ties in the calendar in most recent years. Whether it be in the Premier League, Carabao or FA Cups or the Champions League, Manchester City-Liverpool has never failed to offer the ultimate showdown between two of the country's best sides, with goals sprouting from everywhere.
Perhaps it's the mix of both sides' unrelenting desire to attack, the fact that City have recently been striving to enter English football's history books with their achievements, or even Klopp's somewhat renaissance of the former Liverpool that we were so used to seeing, but luckily we've been treated to at least two of this fixture every season.
This Saturday, both giants meet in Manchester lock horns once more, this time the Etihad playing host. The Premier League matchday 29's encounter comes at arguably a better time for Guardiola's side, who are currently propping up second spot in the league. They've got some work to do if they are to catch the Gunners, though, as the Mancunians are a significant eight points behind at the time of writing.
As for the visitors, they will be making the short trip east with sights firmly set on the top four. A win on the road this Saturday would go a long way for them in potentially securing a Champions League come the end of the season, as well as keeping the pressure firmly on rivals Tottenham and Newcastle, who both kick off after Klopp's men.
Manchester City are arugably the most hampered going into the clash, with a couple of big names either in doubt or outright unavailable. After going through surgery to remove his appendix while he was on international duty, star forward Phil Foden was forced out of the England camp, forcing him to be out for an unspecified amount of time. It's a loss which could certainly prove costly for City's title bid.
Elsewhere, goal-machine Erling Haaland is in doubt after not training with the side. The Norwegian was not able to join his compatriots in Spain or Georgia last week, and he's therefore a serious doubt for this Saturday. It's another big blow for Guardiola, who will be desperate to get his star on the pitch considering he's scored an eye-watering 28 goals so far in the competition.
As for Liverpool, spirits were lifted after Colombian star Luis Diaz was spotted back in first team training yesterday with the Reds. This adds another potent attacking threat to Klopp's already strong armoury, as he'll be hoping to get revenge for Liverpool's last outing at the Etihad.

City go into this one with the better form, winning their last seven in all competitions. Thanks to Guardiola's side's stellar form of late, they're purring nicely in the competitions which remain.
As for The Reds, it's been a bit more of an up-and-down story. With just two wins in their last six outings, they'll be hoping to put behind them the disappointing Champions League defeat they had against Spanish giants Real Madrid, as well as trying to turn things around from their last domestic game on the road to Bournemouth which saw them fall 1-0.
As previously promised, his tie never fails to disappoint, with there being more than one goal in all but one of the 11 previous encounters. That reaches back to the 3rd January 2019, as both sides have gifted fans with attractive football for as long as the stats go back.
Game: Man City vs Liverpool
Location: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Time: 1st April 2023, 13:30 CEST