Liverpool vs. Manchester City English Premier League Preview and Prediction
This weekend puts the Premier League season over the two-thirds mark, with one of the biggest games of the season between last year’s champions, Liverpool, and the 2024 season champions, Manchester City.
The stakes couldn’t be higher, as a draw or loss for City could set them back up to nine points from first-place Arsenal, and even cause them to lose ground on second-place Aston Villa. Liverpool needs to qualify for a spot in next year’s Champions League – assuming they don’t win it this year – by finishing in the top five, and a win would set them on track to do just that.
Liverpool vs. Manchester City English Premier League Odds and Betting Trends
History has seen 195 matches between the two old-time English clubs, with Liverpool recording 92 wins and City earning 53 wins, along with 50 draws mixed in. There have been 618 total goals in this head-to-head series, as well. Mohamed Salah is the second-highest goalscorer in this fixture (13 goals), just behind Ian Rush (15 goals). In their last 10 meetings dating back to the 2021/22 FA Cup semis, there have been two draws, five Liverpool wins and three City victories – including their most recent 3-0 EPL win on November 9.
City’s odds of attaining the trophy this year rise to +450, while Liverpool is grouped with the rest of the pack at +10000 – needing many outcomes to go their way to win it. This weekend, though, they are +135 home favourites at Anfield, having not lost in their building since November 26. City are close +175 contenders on the Premier League odds after showcasing some shaky away results, with a draw standing at +270 odds.
Manchester City
Outside of their eighth-place, Round of 16 qualification in the Champions League, City advanced to the EFL Cup Finals against Arsenal after a 3-1 second-leg win over Newcastle in the semis on Wednesday. However, they’ve only won one of their last six Premier League games, with their last away win coming back at the end of December.
Erling Haaland (+110 anytime goalscorer) still leads the EPL at 20 goals this season, although he hasn’t scored in a league game since January 7. Antoine Semenyo (+270) extended his goal count to 12 after scoring in back-to-back Premier League games, while Omar Marmoush (+320) could be an ace in the hole for victory in this matchup after netting a brace against Newcastle in the EFL Cup semifinal second leg.
Liverpool
Liverpool has done brilliantly in the Champions League, securing a Round of 16 spot with a third-place finish. The Reds generally are different machines at home, having gone undefeated at Anfield for eight straight matches in all competitions, with their most recent 4-1 win over Newcastle last Saturday keeping them at sixth place in the EPL with 39 points. The team does, however, suffer from several ongoing injuries, including a recent knock to Jeremie Frimpong, which begs the question of who will play outside back for the Reds this match – especially with Joe Gomez out and Conor Bradley undergoing knee surgery.
Alexander Isak suffered a fibula fracture, leaving Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike to be the team’s most likely goalscorer at +140. He’s in good form, netting three goals in his last five matches. Mohamed Salah (+250) could be a game-changer given the circumstances, followed by Federico Chiesa (+285) – each with a goal in their last UCL fixture. Florian Wirtz (+500) may be the true finishing touch for the Reds, as the midfielder comes into his own with three goals in his last five games.
English Premier League Prediction: Who Will Win Liverpool vs. Manchester City?
This match is monumental, and could be the sole factor in determining if Arsenal runs away with the Premier League this year. That being said, both sides will put their best foot forward, and with 56 goals between them, you can expect multiple shots to hit the back of the net.
Liverpool’s home advantage will be huge, but they suffer from a long list of injuries, while also having a notoriously uncharacteristic season after being last year’s champions. City, on the other hand have pulled it back this season, but hasn’t been great on away turf recently. Ekitke and Wirtz in-form versus an always-threatening Halaand and Semenyo (32 goals between the two) highlights a close game, possibly a draw (+270) with a 2-2 scoreline, which hits the over 2.5 at -185, as well.
