Mohamed Salah Liverpool Manchester City Champions League

Laurence Griffiths

Neil Jones

Liverpool Team News: Injuries, suspensions and line-up vs Manchester City

The Premier League's top two sides go head-to-head at Anfield this week as both protect their unbeaten starts to the season

It's the one everyone is waiting for.

Liverpool and Manchester City go head-to-head in a battle of the Premier League's top two sides this weekend, with both putting their unbeaten league records on the line.

What a mouth-watering clash, a renewal of last season's thrilling rivalry, as Pep Guardiola's side look to gain revenge over Jurgen Klopp's men, who won the last three meetings in such incredible, memorable fashion.

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Anfield is sure to be bouncing for this one, the perfect way to sign off ahead of the international break.

Here, Goal takes a look at everything you need to know ahead of Sunday's meeting...

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Liverpool injuries

Liverpool will check on the fitness of Naby Keita, who was forced off during the midweek loss to Napoli due to a back problem. Keita underwent hospital tests in Naples to determine the exact injury but was cleared to fly back with his team-mates on Thursday. Liverpool are yet to completely rule the Guinea midfielder out of Sunday's game.

Adam Lallana has returned to full training this week but is unlikely to be considered until after the international break as he looks to put a hamstring issue behind him.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Rhian Brewster are long-term absentees.

Naby Keita Liverpool Napoli UEFA Champions League 03102018

ALBERTO PIZZOLI

Liverpool suspensions

Liverpool do not have any suspended players for this game.

Likely Liverpool starting line-up

Keita's injury is likely to mean at least one change to the starting XI, with Jordan Henderson likely to slot into midfield.

Cases can be made for both Daniel Sturridge and Xherdan Shaqiri to start the game, with Mohamed Salah in particular looking below his best of late. The idea of Klopp leaving the Egyptian out of a fixture of such significance, though, is fanciful.

Goal

Manchester City team news

Guardiola lost a midfielder of his own in midweek, with Ilkay Gundogan limping out of the Champions League win at Hoffenheim with a hamstring injury. The German scored in this fixture last season but is a major doubt for Sunday.

City already have issues at left back, with Benjamin Mendy (foot) and Fabian Delph (knock) struggling. Danilo, Oleksandr Zinchenko or Aymeric Laporte could be asked to fill in.

Kevin De Bruyne returned to training this week after a knee issue, but will not be considered for this game. Claudio Bravo is a long-term absentee with a knee problem of his own.

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TV channel & kick-off time

The fixture will be broadcast live on UK TV this weekend, screened on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports PL, kick-off 4.30pm.

In the United States the game can be watched live on television on NBC Sports, kick off 11.30pm ET.

Best 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.
Man City have lost three matches against Liverpool in 2018, losing in the Premier League in January and two Champions League matches in April. They’ve only lost four matches in one calendar year against an opponent twice before, doing so against Grimsby Town in 1936 and Spurs in 1993.
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 nine Premier League home games – only Manchester United (12 in December 1994) have had a longer such run in the competition.
Manchester City have lost only one of their last 25 Premier League away matches (W20 D4), though it was in this exact fixture last season (3-4).
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 24 home league games, the longest current run in the Premier League (W16 D8). o Liverpool haven’t lost any of their last 13 Premier League home games against fellow ‘big six’ sides (W6 D7), since losing 0-1 against Manchester United in January 2016.
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 striker Sergio Aguero has played nine matches in all competitions at Anfield in his career (seven with Man City, two with Atletico Madrid), failing to score in any of those games, attempting just 11 shots and three on target.
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.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola has lost both of his away league games against Liverpool – he’s never lost three consecutive away games against the same club in his managerial career.
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has scored 148 Premier League goals – only Thierry Henry (175 for Arsenal) has scored more in the competition with 100% of them coming for a single club.
Aguero has scored 148 Premier League goals, and could become the ninth player to reach 150 in the competition.
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.