This article is part of our Game Previews series.
Liverpool vs Manchester City Betting Preview, Prediction & Odds (GW25)
Liverpool and Manchester City meet Sunday at Anfield in a pivotal Premier League clash as Gameweek 25 supplies a matchup with Premier League title and Champions League implications.
Arne Slot continues to push the reigning champions back into the top four battle as they sit in sixth on 39 points, just two points behind fourth-place Manchester United. Pep Guardiola will be pushing Manchester City for his seventh league title as they seek to keep pace with league-leaders Arsenal who are six points clear entering the weekend.
This preview covers predicted lineups, injury news, head-to-head history, betting odds and a score prediction for Sunday's Liverpool vs Manchester City match.
Premier League Player News & Updates
When & Where to Watch (USA/UK)
Sunday, February 8 at 11:30 a.m. ET/4:30 p.m. local
US schedule (English)
- Live Stream: Peacock
US schedule (Spanish)
- TV Channel: Telemundo
UK schedule
- TV Channel: Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League, and Sky Sports Ultra HD
- Live Stream: Sky Go app or with a NOW TV sports pass
Liverpool vs Manchester City Head-to-Head Record
Manchester City and Liverpool have met 228 times, dating back to 1893 when Liverpool earned a 1-0 victory over Manchester City, then known as Ardwick, in a League Division Two match.
Liverpool have dominated the all-time series, winning 110 times and drawing on 58 occasions.
More recently, Manchester City have gone winless across their last four Premier League meetings versus the Reds (two losses, two draws).
Fixture Trivia
Question: In Manchester City's largest margin of victory over Liverpool in the Premier League Era, which two players scored a brace?
Gameweek 24 Trivia: Before completing his summer transfer from Newcastle to Liverpool, how many career goals did Alexander Isak score versus Liverpool?
Isak scored three Premier League goals for Newcastle versus Liverpool, prior to moving to Merseyside ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Betting Odds and Predictions for Liverpool vs Manchester City
Liverpool enter as a slight home favorite, with moneyline prices reflecting the knife's edge on which the fixture is likely to balance.
Premier League Odds Comparisons
Moneyline Odds
DraftKings: LIV +135 Draw +265, MCI +175
FanDuel: LIV +135 Draw +260, MCI +175
BetMGM: LIV +135 Draw +270, MCI +175
Bet365: LIV +137 Draw +270, MCI +175
Visit RotoWire all season for exclusive sports betting picks and our weekly Premier League betting show. Remember that betting apps vary in terms of odds, so we have an easy-to-use odds page that allows you to shop for the best lines at DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and PointsBet. Claim over a thousand dollars in bonuses by signing up at the best sports betting sites using the best sportsbook promos.
RECENT FORM
Liverpool (WWLWD) have scored 16 goals across their last five fixtures, earning Champions League victories over Olympique Marseilles and Qarabag FK and a Premier League win over Newcastle.
Manchester City (WDWWL) have earned just six points from their last five league fixtures. The Cityzens defeated Newcastle 3-1 (5-1 on aggregate) in the midweek to advance to the EFL Cup Final versus Arsenal.
FORMATIONS
Liverpool are most accustomed to lining up in a 4-2-3-1. The double-pivot is intended to shield a Liverpool backline that has conceded 32 goals, tied for the ninth-most conceded in the Premier League. When operating optimally, the double-pivot provides the Liverpool full-backs license to make overlapping runs into the attacking half of the pitch.
Manchester City are most likely to line up in a 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 shape. When City control possession, look for Guardiola's tactical nuances to take shape as a full-back will move into the midfield, allowing the likes of Rayan Cherki or Phil Foden to take up a position further up the pitch.
CONFIRMED LINEUP NOTES & INJURY NEWS
Premier League Predicted & Confirmed Lineups
Liverpool Injury News & Lineup Notes
The Reds enter the fixture contending with one question mark and a rash of long-term injuries.
Defensively, Joe Gomez (undisclosed) is considered game time decision for Sunday. Speaking on Gomez in his prematch press conference, coach Arne Slot said, "With Joe, we have a little bit of hope that he might train Saturday. So, not available to start but maybe available to help the team if needed during the game because, as you already know, there are not that many defenders available at the moment."
At full-back, Jeremie Frimpong (hamstring) will not play Sunday after he was held out of training this week as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury. With fellow full-back Conor Bradley (knee) unavailable for an extended run, Dominik Szoboszlai could be forced to drop from the midfield into the backline to provide defensive cover.
Alexander Isak (ankle), Giovanni Leoni (knee), and Stefan Bajcetic (hamstring) each remain long-term absences for the Reds.
Manchester City Injury News & Lineup Notes
Guardiola is managing injuries up and down the pitch as City prepare their traveling squad to Anfield.
Across the backline, Ruben Dias (hamstring) returned to the bench in City's midweek EFL Cup victory for the first time since early January, though he did not make an appearance. Given that Dias had been reintegrated into team training ahead of the Cup fixture, anticipate the central defender to displace Abdukodir Khusanov and rejoin the starting XI alongside new signing Marc Guehi. John Stones (thigh) and Josko Gvardiol (fracture) each remain unavailable and without specific timelines for their return.
In the midfield, Bernardo Silva (hamstring) is more likely to make an impact from the substitute's bench, according to Guardiola. Given Silva's presumed limitations, expect Tijjani Reijnders to take up an advanced role in the midfield adjacent to Phil Foden.
The attacking unit will be without Jeremy Doku (calf) and Savinho (undisclosed) as Sunday's fixture will come too soon for the injured duo. Anticipate Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki to use the width of the pitch and create attacking chances for Erling Haaland.
KEY MATCHUPS
Rodri & Florian Wirtz
Enjoy Sunday's fixture with an eye on Liverpool's $157 million dollar attacking-midfielder seeking space and respite from the former Ballon d'Or winner and holding-midfielder, Rodri.
Rodri's experience uncanny ability to see three passes ahead allow him to leverage his positional discipline to jump opponent passing lanes and breakup attacking momentum. Conversely, after a plodding start to life in England, Wirtz has struck a rich vein of form that has yielded four goals and three assists across his last 10 Premier League appearances (10 starts).
With Wirtz being the more agile of the two all-world midfielders, look for Slot to devise a tactic by which the veteran Rodri will be forced to expend his energy chasing the attacking-midfielder. When Wirtz abandons the center of the pitch, look for Liverpool to quickly move the ball into the space left behind.
Antoine Semenyo & Dominik Szoboszlai
Semenyo has consistently eaten the lunch of opponent full-backs this season, both prior to and since arriving at Manchester City from Bournemouth. The winger has scored in each of this last two Premier League appearances, and his 12 league goals are second only to teammate Erling Haaland.
The winger is likely to matchup against Szoboszlai in one-on-one situations Sunday as the midfielder likely deputizes at right full-back for the seventh time (all competitions). The previous six times Szoboszlai has assumed the full-back role, the Reds have conceded one goal or less on four occasions.
Look for Guardiola to create attacking opportunities by isolating Semenyo with quick reversals of play. Conversely, Slot will be mindful of the impact of the lack of defensive cover that Mohamed Salah provides. To assist Szoboszlai in repelling Semenyo across the full 90 minutes, the Egyptian King may have to be prematurely withdrawn from proceedings.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Hugo Ekitike has lived up to the hype after making a $107 million dollar transfer to Merseyside from Eintracht Frankfurt during the summer. The striker has scored 10 league goals and assisted twice across 21 appearances (15 starts).
With new arrivals, young players and returns from injury likely to dot the Manchester City backline, I back Ekitike to take advantage of miscues and miscommunications as he leverages his direct play into at least one goal contribution Sunday.
RESULT
Liverpool 2 - Manchester City 2
UPCOMING FIXTURES
Liverpool: Feb. 11 at Sunderland
Manchester City: Feb. 11 vs Fulham
