Liverpool vs. Manchester City
Manchester City and Liverpool renew hostilities in the FA Cup last four on Saturday afternoon at Wembley Stadium, having both qualified for the Champions League semi-finals.
Last Saturday’s Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium ended in a tense 2-2 tie, and the two sides are vying to face either Chelsea or Crystal Palace in the showpiece event this weekend.
Team News
Manchester City
- On Wednesday night, Man City were at war with Atletico Madrid. As evidenced by Phil Foden’s bandaged head, Guardiola also lost Kyle Walker and Kevin De Bruyne to injuries, with the former twisting his ankle and De Bruyne requiring stitches in his calf.
- Guardiola stated that the injuries had put his team in “serious jeopardy” ahead of the semi-final, but Ruben Dias was fit enough to start at the Wanda Metropolitano, while Gabriel Jesus has returned from his European suspension.
- With Dias’s return, John Stones may move to right-back to cover for the injured Walker, or Joao Cancelo could switch wings when either Nathan Ake or Oleksandr Zinchenko returns to the left, giving Guardiola plenty of defensive alternatives. Raheem Sterling will almost certainly be recalled as a result of De Bruyne’s problem.
Liverpool
- Jurgen Klopp, on the other hand, may have a full complement of choices after his players came through the second leg against Benfica uninjured, but Diogo Jota has surfaced as a slight doubt due to an injury.
- Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all expected to return to the starting lineup, while Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara came off the bench against Benfica and should start.
- Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are also expected to return to the starting lineup, with Luis Diaz joining them after being substituted shortly after the hour mark in the second leg against Benfica.
Prediction Analysis
Man City arguably should have taken the game to Liverpool early last week, but injuries to key players sustained during a showdown with Atletico Madrid have surely given Liverpool the upper hand.
While Guardiola’s starting XI gave it their all on the Wanda Metropolitano surface, Klopp was allowed to rest a few of his big-hitters, and the fresh legs of a free-scoring Liverpool side can slice their way through the City backline to reach the final once more.
Our prediction is Manchester City 1-2 Liverpool.
Possible Lineup
Manchester City: Ederson; Cancelo, Stones, Laporte, Ake; Silva, Rodri, Gundogan; Jesus, Sterling, Grealish;;
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Mane, Diaz;