Manchester City vs Liverpool – News and Probable Lineups

Nearly two weeks after claiming the EFL Cup, Manchester City is set to return to the Etihad Stadium to face Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals this Saturday afternoon.

The last encounter between these clubs occurred around two months ago during an exciting Premier League match at Anfield, where City mounted a late comeback to secure a 2-1 victory thanks to goals from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland.

Match overview

Manchester City’s season seemed to be slipping away after they trailed nine points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal and exited the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid. However, the Citizens painted Wembley blue as they celebrated a well-deserved win in the EFL Cup final.

Two second-half headers from emerging talent Nico O’Reilly led Manchester City to a resounding 2-0 win over Arsenal, ensuring Pep Guardiola would not face another season without silverware. This victory also marked the 40th major honor for the Catalan coach, a notable milestone should he decide to end his decade-long stint at the Etihad this summer.

Challenging fixtures against Chelsea and Arsenal lie ahead for Manchester City, but their immediate priority is to overcome Liverpool this weekend in their quest to reach the FA Cup semi-finals for an unprecedented eighth consecutive season.

Indeed, Manchester City has an impressive FA Cup record, winning 19 of their last 21 encounters in the tournament over the past four years, including a 3-1 fifth-round victory against Newcastle a month ago. Their only losses during this span came in the 2024 and 2025 finals against Manchester United and Crystal Palace, respectively.

The Citizens have enjoyed a remarkable 17-game winning streak at home in the FA Cup, last suffering defeat to Middlesbrough in January 2015 (2-0). A win over Liverpool would allow them to eclipse Clapham Rovers’ record of 17 consecutive home victories (1873-1881), establishing the longest winning streak in the competition’s history.

Liverpool’s trip to face Manchester City will be the first match since Mohamed Salah announced his intention to leave the club at the end of the season, concluding an iconic nine-year tenure at Anfield as the Egyptian king.

The 33-year-old, who was unavailable for the Reds’ 2-1 Premier League defeat at Brighton prior to the international break due to injury, has been advised by club legend Steven Gerrard not to leave “under a cloud,” following his public fallout with head coach Arne Slot earlier this season.

Liverpool has at least 10 matches remaining across three different competitions before the season concludes. While securing a top-five finish in the Premier League is crucial, advancing in the FA Cup and Champions League is also vital for determining Slot’s long-term future at the club.

Before their Champions League quarter-final first leg against PSG next Wednesday, Liverpool will face a test against a Manchester City side that has already achieved a league double over them this season. A victory for City would mean they are the second team to defeat the Reds three times in a single season after Crystal Palace.

In their last visit to the Etihad in November of last year, Liverpool lost 3-0, but the eight-time FA Cup winners will take solace in their record of winning their last four away matches against Manchester City in this competition (1988, 2001, 2003, and 2022).

Last month, Liverpool secured a 3-1 fifth-round victory against Wolves, and a win this Saturday would see them reach the FA Cup semi-finals for only the second time in the last 11 years, and for the first time since their triumph in 2022 under Jurgen Klopp.

Team News

Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol is sidelined with a tibial fracture, while John Stones (calf) and Ruben Dias (hamstring) are set to be assessed before kickoff.

Marc Guehi was ineligible for the EFL Cup final, but he is prepared to start in defense this weekend alongside either Dias, if fit, Abdukodir Khusanov, or Nathan Ake, while James Trafford is anticipated to begin in goal ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma.

O’Reilly may continue at left-back following his heroics in the EFL Cup final, but Guardiola might opt to bring back Rayan Ait-Nouri and shift O’Reilly into midfield to partner with captain Bernardo Silva and Rodri.

Erling Haaland has been involved in three goals (two goals, one assist) in his last two showings against Liverpool and has also scored nine times in 11 FA Cup matches. The Norwegian is likely to spearhead the attack for City and could be accompanied in front by Antoine Semenyo.

For Liverpool, Alisson Becker (muscle), Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni (both knee), and Wataru Endo (ankle) remain unavailable due to injuries, while Jeremie Frimpong will be evaluated after picking up an unspecified issue during international duty with the Netherlands.

Alexander Isak has made a welcome return to training this week after over three months sidelined with a broken leg, but the upcoming game may be too soon for the striker. Hugo Ekitike is expected to lead the line regardless of Isak’s availability.

Salah is “very close” to returning and has informed Slot that he believes he will be fit for the match against City. If available, the Egyptian will aim to become the first Liverpool player since Emile Heskey in 2000-01 to score in four consecutive FA Cup matches for the club.

In-form Dominik Szoboszlai – who scored a fantastic long-range free kick against Manchester City earlier this year – might need to fill in at right-back if Frimpong is not fit, allowing Florian Wirtz to take on the number 10 role in front of midfield duo Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch.

Manchester City probable starting XI:

Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, Ait-Nouri; Bernardo, Rodri, O’Reilly; Semenyo, Haaland, Cherki

Liverpool probable starting XI:

Mamardashvili; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; ekitike

Eighteen of the last 19 encounters between Manchester City and Liverpool have seen two or more goals, and yet another thrilling match between these two sides could be on the cards this weekend.

All attention will be on whether Salah will participate, but the Reds still have several attacking options capable of challenging the home side. Nevertheless, Manchester City’s outstanding home form is tough to overlook, and we anticipate Guardiola’s squad – riding high after their recent EFL Cup victory – to secure their spot in the semi-finals.