Manchester City Gear Up for Pivotal Liverpool Clash Amid Poor Form
Manchester City face another challenging test this weekend as they travel to Anfield to take on Premier League leaders Liverpool. The match comes at a critical juncture for Pep Guardiola‘s side, who are winless in their last six matches, including a humbling 4-0 loss to Tottenham and a disappointing 3-3 draw with Feyenoord in the Champions League.
This will mark Guardiola’s first encounter with Liverpool under their new manager, Arne Slot, who replaced Jurgen Klopp earlier this season. Slot has revitalized the Reds, who are in dominant form, sitting atop both the Premier League and Champions League standings.
Gundogan Sounds the Alarm
City captain Ilkay Gundogan has underscored the significance of Sunday’s game, admitting that a loss could end their title hopes. “We have to beat Liverpool,” Gundogan warned after the Feyenoord draw, “or else the title race could be over.”
Merson Predicts Tough Day for City
Former Premier League star Paul Merson weighed in on the upcoming clash in his Sportskeeda column, painting a grim picture for City.
“It’s unreal,” Merson wrote. “Manchester City are eight points behind Liverpool now, and if they lose on Sunday, that’s an 11-point gap. Even if City win 15 games in a row after that, they’d still be behind Liverpool! That’s how big this match is.”
Highlighting City’s vulnerabilities, Merson said, “I don’t trust Manchester City after what happened against Feyenoord. I’ve never seen anything like it. Without Rodri, City look lost, and selling Julian Alvarez is now coming back to bite them. Liverpool 2-1 Manchester City.”
Walker Praises Liverpool’s Resurgence
Kyle Walker also spoke highly of Liverpool’s transformation under Slot, acknowledging the Reds’ impressive start to the season.
“They’ve got a new lease of life under the new manager,” Walker said. “They’re playing great football. Every year, we look forward to playing Liverpool, but this year, we’ve got a point to prove. Winning against them is always a statement, especially now when they’ve started the season like a house on fire.”
Head-to-Head and Form
Liverpool’s stats underline their dominance: 10 wins, one draw, and one loss this season, with 24 goals scored and only eight conceded. In contrast, City have struggled, managing just seven wins, two draws, and three losses, with a worrying defensive record of 17 goals conceded.
City’s Anfield record doesn’t inspire confidence either, with only two Premier League wins at the iconic stadium in the competition’s history.
The Stakes at Anfield
Sunday’s showdown represents City’s biggest game of the season so far. With their form in freefall, a victory at Anfield could reignite their campaign, while a defeat might all but confirm Liverpool’s growing dominance in the title race.
For Guardiola and his squad, this is the ultimate test—a chance to silence their critics, break their winless streak, and keep their title ambitions alive.
