![Ben Smith](/wp-content/uploads/ben-headshot-updated.jpeg.webp)
Arne Slot’s start to life at Liverpool improves by the week, while Pep Guardiola is experiencing the worst spell of his tenure in England. Defeat at Anfield would all but eliminate Manchester City from the title race after just 13 games.
Having already dispatched the German champions at Anfield, Liverpool swept aside the kings of Europe Real Madrid on Wednesday night in a dominant display.
The Reds are the only side in the Champions League to have won all five of their matches thus far, meaning they have a two-point advantage at the top of the table.
They have an even bigger lead domestically and will extend it on Sunday if they beat the four-time back-to-back Premier League winners.
Ibrahima Konate suffered an injury in stoppage time against Los Blancos but Slot has not ruled the Frenchman out of featuring this weekend. Trent Alexander-Arnold is fit enough to start after missing out in midweek.
Just when it looked like things couldn’t get any worse at Manchester City following their 4-0 loss at home to Tottenham Hotspur, the Cityzens’ collapse at home to Feyenoord was perhaps even more ludicrous than the thumping they received three days prior.
It was the first time in Guardiola’s managerial career that he had seen one of his teams give up a three-goal cushion, and it has left them with plenty to do in Europe.
City have not won in front of fans at Anfield since 2003, and their task is made more difficult by the absences of Rodri, John Stones, and Mateo Kovacic among others.
Guardiola’s head-to-head record against Liverpool is by far the worst of any outfit he has faced in the dugout, and it makes for even worse reading away from the Etihad Stadium.
The Spaniard holds seven victories over the Reds in 22 attempts, with five of those successes coming in Manchester and one at Wembley. Their 4-1 triumph at Anfield in February 2021 took place behind closed doors.
Last season, both meetings between the clubs ended all square, though neither was without controversy, as Ruben Dias had a goal disallowed at the Etihad and Liverpool felt they should have had a late penalty at Anfield.
Home dominance was a recurring theme when Jurgen Klopp locked horns with Guardiola. New boss Slot will be hoping for more of the same on Sunday.
The Reds are in excellent form in front of goal, while City are struggling for clean sheets.
It was a rare blank for Mohamed Salah on Wednesday, but the Egyptian can contribute on Sunday. The best bet is for the Liverpool star to score or assist.
With 12 goals and 10 assists in 19 Reds starts this term, Salah is on pace for another remarkable season in terms of output.
He has registered a goal contribution in all but four of his Liverpool starts in 2024-25, with one of those failures coming in the win over Real Madrid against whom he missed a penalty that he had won himself.
A man for the big occasion, Salah has recorded 11 goals and six assists in 21 appearances against City for the Reds.
In this fixture, and against anybody this season, Liverpool’s fifth-all-time leading scorer delivers more often than not. Lining up against an out-of-sorts City who have shipped 17 goals in their last six matches, his goal or assist odds of just under Evens are very appealing.
Slot’s side are odds-on to score twice or more, so Salah’s price to get involved looks a little off.
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