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Manchester City and Liverpool will renew their rivalry when they meet at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday lunchtime in the Premier League’s first game back after the international break.
Just one point separates the two sides heading into the match, and they could be set for another fascinating title battle this season.
City pipped Liverpool to top spot in 2018-19 and 2021-22, but the Reds dominated the league in 2019-20 to claim their first title in 30 years.
Mail Sport has taken a look at how pundits have predicted the game will play out.
Man City and Liverpool will face each other at the Etihad Stadium in Saturday’s early kick-off
Roy Keane
Prediction: Man City win
Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane kept it short and sweet when asked for his prediction for Saturday’s match.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Keane simply replied ‘City’ when asked who he thought would come out on top.
Elaborating on his tip a little further, Keane admitted he is expecting a tight game, but favours Pep Guardiola’s team to get the job done.
‘Not comfortable,’ Keane said when asked if it would be easy for City. ‘(But) I always fancy City.’
Roy Keane has predicted that City will beat their title rivals in front of their home fans
Chris Sutton
Prediction: Man City win
Mail Sport columnist and former Premier League winner Chris Sutton is also backing City to beat their title rivals.
He is also convinced it will be tough for the hosts, but feels they will pick up all three points.
‘There’s so many things going through my mind’, he told Mail Sport’s It’s All Kicking Off podcast as he pondered the potential result.
‘Manchester City to win this game, I’m going for an exact scoreline, which is pretty daring of me, 2-1 Manchester City.’
Chris Sutton has also tipped City to get the job done against Jurgen Klopp’s men
Jamie Carragher
Prediction: Liverpool will not win
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher is aware of the Reds’ poor recent record at City, with Liverpool not winning a league game at the Etihad since 2015, and is not too optimistic of that changing this weekend.
He believes it will be a difficult afternoon for Liverpool, and does not fancy them to win.
‘I think it will be tough. I think the best Liverpool will get will be a draw,’ he said on the Stick to Football podcast.
‘Liverpool’s record there is poor. For me, they’ve got the best goalkeeper in the world, Liverpool, and I think they’ll definitely need him. Liverpool’s defensive record is actually really good this season. I think Virgil van Dijk has been not far away from his best this season, but I do still think there are chinks in the armour in terms of maybe in the full back positions.
‘Andy Robertson’s out, we know Trent going into the midfield positions back to full back, I’m thinking of Doku coming up against him, and also Liverpool defensively in midfield still haven’t got that real top-class No6.
‘I think it will be difficult defensively for Liverpool, so I think the best they get is a draw.’
Ian Wright
Prediction: Liverpool win
Ex-Arsenal striker Ian Wright is going against the grain, and thinks Liverpool will go to City and win.
Wright revealed he has concerns about Liverpool’s defence, but expects their midfield and front line to cause City problems.
‘I’m going to go Liverpool,’ he told the Stick to Football podcast.
‘I feel defensively, Liverpool should have conceded more by now, the keeper’s amazing, some people have missed some chances but I just think that midfield with Endo, Szoboszlai and Mac Allister, Salah in unbelievable form, Nunez and then Diaz or whoever it is.
‘I still feel like this is a good one for Liverpool.’
Ian Wright believes Liverpool will get their first league win at the Etihad since 2015
