Liverpool make the short trip down the M62 to face Man City as they look for three points in the race for top four. We’re live to bring you the latest.

Kickoff at the Etihad is 12.30pm (UK), the referee is Simon Hooper.

Today’s blog is run by Sam Millne, get involved by Tweeting @thisisanfield, @sam_millne & in the comments below.

Teams

Man City: Ederson; Akanji, Stones, Dias, Ake; Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Grealish, Alvarez

Subs: Ortega, Laporte, Walker, Gomez, Lewis, Phillips, Perrone, Palmer, Bernardo

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Elliott; Salah, Jota, Gakpo

Subs: Kelleher, Matip, Gomez, Tsimikas, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arthur, Firmino, Nunez

Our coverage updates automatically below:

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Jurgen Klopp has made two changes to his starting lineup after a 16-day break, with Diogo Jota among the starters for today’s trip to Man City.

The Reds have not been in action since their 1-0 defeat at Real Madrid in mid-March, with fixture postponement and internationals leading to a long gap in games.

However, today brings the first of three crucial games in nine days, with Man City the opponents at the Etihad.

Alisson was one of those to have taken advantage of the extended break, and starts behind a back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson.

At the base of the midfield starts Fabinho, joined by Jordan Henderson and Harvey Elliott.

Jota is perhaps a surprise starter, with the Portuguese taking a place in the forward line alongside Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo.

There is no place in the squad yet for Luis Diaz, despite his return to training, but the likes of Darwin Nunez and Roberto Firmino are on the bench.

Meanwhile, Erling Haaland misses out for Man City due to an ongoing groin injury.

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Elliott; Salah, Jota, Gakpo

Substitutes: Kelleher, Matip, Gomez, Tsimikas, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arthur, Firmino, Nunez

Man City: Ederson; Akanji, Stones, Dias, Ake; Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Grealish, Alvarez

Substitutes: Ortega, Laporte, Walker, Gomez, Lewis, Phillips, Perrone, Palmer, Bernardo

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Liverpool finally return to competitive action this weekend with a visit to Premier League champions Man City. Here’s how to watch live online and on TV worldwide.

Saturday lunchtime at the Etihad presents the start of three tough fixtures in nine days for the Reds, with Chelsea and Arsenal soon to follow.

A positive result and performance would provide a huge boost to Liverpool’s hopes of a top-four finish heading towards the run-in and kick off the weekend in perfect style.

It is a big task given that Liverpool’s last league win at the Etihad came in 2015, but a win would be a major step in the right direction.

Up the Reds.

Check This Is Anfield for the latest team news ahead of the match.

You can also follow the game by downloading the This is Anfield app, including lineups, live coverage and all the reaction and analysis.

The match gets underway at 12.30pm (BST) – or 7.30am in New York, 4.30am in Los Angeles, 10.30pm in Sydney, 3.30pm in Dubai and 2.30pm in Nairobi.

UK Viewers

Man City vs. Liverpool is being shown live on BT Sport 1 in the UK, which is available to live stream here.

This Is Anfield will also be providing live text commentary throughout on our website and full match reaction and analysis on the This Is Anfield app for iPhone and Android later.

Download free here.

US Viewers

Man City vs. Liverpool is being shown live on Peacock in the US, which is available to live stream here.

This Is Anfield will also be providing live text commentary throughout on our website and full match reaction and analysis on the This Is Anfield app for iPhone and Android later.

Download free here.

Canada Viewers

Man City vs. Liverpool is being shown live on the fubo Sports Network in Canada, which is available to live stream with FuboTV here.

This Is Anfield will also be providing live text commentary throughout on our website and full match reaction and analysis on the This Is Anfield app for iPhone and Android later.

Download free here.

Worldwide

Live audio commentary of Man City vs. Liverpool and a full match replay and highlights will also be available on LFCTV GO here.

Check our Rest of the World TV guide below for a list of TV broadcasters showing the match live.

This Is Anfield will also be providing live text commentary throughout on our website and full match reaction and analysis on the This Is Anfield app for iPhone and Android later.

Download free here.

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Supporters can find Liverpool’s trip to the Etihad on the following channels worldwide:

beIN Sports English, beIN Sports Premium 1, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, TOD,SuperSport Premier League ROA, SuperSport MaXimo 2, DStv Now, SuperSport MaXimo 1, Csport.tv, star+, ESPN Argentina, Setanta Sports 1, Optus Sport, Sky Sport Top Event, Paramount+, Star Sports Select HD2, Moja TV, Arena Sport 1P, Astro Go, Diema Sport 2, Play Diema Xtra, fuboTV Canada, ESPN Chile, QQ Sports Live, Migu, iQiyi, Sky Sport NOW, Sky Sport Premier League, ESPN, Arena Sport 3 Croatia, Cytavision Sports 3, Cytavision on the Go, Canal+ Sport, Skylink, V Sport Ultra HD, Viaplay Denmark, TV3+ HD, beIN Sports English, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, beIN Sports Premium 1, Viaplay Estonia, TV3+ HD, V Sport 2 Finland, V Sport Ultra HD, V Sport Premium, Elisa Viihde Viaplay, Canal+ Foot, WOW, Nova Sports Premier League, 620 Now Premier League TV, 621 Now Premier League 1, Now E, Now Player, Spíler1, TV2 Play, SíminnSport, Hotstar VIP, Star Sports Select 2, JioTV, Vidio, BT Sport App, BTSport.com, TalkSport Radio UK, BT Sport 1, NOW TV, SKY Go Italia, Sky Sport Football, Sky Sport Uno, SPOTV ON, Viaplay Latvia, iQiyi, Astro SuperSport 3, sooka, TSN2 Malta, GO TV Anywhere, Skynet Myanmar, Viaplay Netherlands, SuperSport Premier League Nigeria, Viaplay Norway, V Sport Ultra HD, V Sport Premier League, Viaplay Poland, Eleven Sports 1 Portugal, Prima Sport 1, Orange TV Go, Digi Sport 1 Romania, Orange Sport 1 Romania, Digi Online, Prima Play, 222 Hub Premier 2, 221 Hub Premier 1, StarHub TV+, Arena Sport 1 Premium, DStv App, SuperSport Premier League, DAZN, DAZN 2, Movistar+, Viaplay Sweden, V Sport Ultra HD, V Sport Premium, True Premier Football HD 1, True Premier Football HD 2, Setanta Sports Ukraine, TalkSport Radio UK, BT Sport Ultimate, BTSport.com, BT Sport 1, BT Sport App, SiriusXM FC, Peacock, VieON, K+ SPORT 1

You can follow all the action today and the whole of the 2022/23 season with us by downloading the This is Anfield app for iPhone and Android for free.

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Liverpool’s transfer planning has picked up over the international break and Jurgen Klopp has put a marker down for the club’s owners.

With an ageing squad, it is clear Liverpool need to regenerate their team this summer.

Midfield has been the area singled out for criticism and Liverpool’s recent substantial links to Mason Mount and Jude Bellingham suggest it is a department they will heavily invest in.

The Reds have not spent as much as many of their competitors in recent years, namely Chelsea and Man City, but Klopp has insisted “the club will spend in the summer, definitely.”

With both players abovementioned not coming cheap, Klopp was asked if he could see Liverpool spending over £100 million on one player – a not-so-subtle hint about Bellingham.

The German replied: “I can, or I will not answer your question. We never speak about these kinds of things.

“We will spend in the summer, that’s what I can say, definitely. The club will spend in the summer, definitely.

“For who and how many? There’s nothing to say about it really.”

Transfer rumours have become more substantial over the international break and a “positive” Klopp said there have been “talks” but “no decision yet.”

He added: “We are busy, you can imagine.”

Though Liverpool’s form has been far from what’s required to compete at the top, the manager maintains that he will not make reactionary decisions based on players’ form.

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“That has nothing to do with specific results, obviously. My main job is to watch the boys the whole year,” he insisted.

“That’s what I do, during sessions and during games. One game, two games – it has absolutely nothing to do with the decisions.”

The manager added: “That doesn’t mean you sign a player after 7-0 or you sell a player after losing 1-0.”

It will be interesting to see if Liverpool return to the method, from the start of Klopp’s era, which saw a host of rising stars arrive at Anfield, or if they will start to sign players already at the peak of their powers.

Either way, Klopp has readily noted Liverpool’s need to nail their signings as their budget does not allow for them to get it wrong unlike some of their rivals.

The due diligence is clearly already in motion and Klopp is “positive” about the situation, now it is for the club to make it happen in the transfer window.

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Liverpool’s city rivals are facing the threat of relegation, with Everton potentially set for a points deduction by the Premier League this season.

Everton are currently under investigation for alleged breaches of Financial Fair Play (FFP), with the Premier League referring the club to an independent commission.

Though no details have emerged regarding the situation, the league have confirmed that it relates to the period ending in 2021/22.

On Friday, Everton posted their annual financial accounts for the 2021-22 year, with losses of £44.7 million making it five consecutive years in which the Goodison club has been in the red.

The club did pointedly explain that this was a 63 percent on last year, when they posted losses of £121.3 million, but it is still a sizeable deficit.

Now, the Mail‘s Matt Hughes has reported that, upon consultation with six unnamed Premier League clubs, the investigating into Everton is expected to conclude before the end of the season.

With Everton facing the prospect of a points deduction if they are found to have breached FFP, there would be a strong chance of relegation to the Championship.

Before the weekend’s games, Sean Dyche’s side sat two points off the relegation zone in 15th, having played a game more than Bournemouth in 19th and two more than West Ham in 18th.

The Premier League is said to have “expressed confidence that the matter could be concluded before the season finishes on May 28.”

Six clubs, likely to be rivals for relegation, called for “greater transparency” into the investigation, while the need to expedite the case comes under threat of “multiple legal claims.”

According to the Guardian‘s Andy Hunter, financial auditors had warned in Everton‘s accounts that, if relegated, “a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt over the group’s ability to continue as a going concern.”

Hunter further noted how Everton paid out £10.5 million to Rafa Benitez and his staff upon their decision to sack the former Liverpool manager after just seven months in charge in January of last year.

Elsewhere in the Guardian, analysis into the construction of Everton‘s new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock suggests it is “at least three months” behind schedule.

Nevertheless, if Everton were to be relegated, Goodison Park is likely to have held its final Merseyside derby, that being a 1-1 draw between the women’s sides earlier this month.

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Liverpool resume their hunt for a top-four finish with a tough fixture against Manchester City in the Premier League.

Man City vs. Liverpool

Premier League (27) | Etihad Stadium
April 1, 2023 | 12.30pm (BST)

It has been a while since Liverpool’s disappointing defeat at Bournemouth, but with familiar faces back in training, the Reds will be hoping to finally gain some consistency in this final quarter of the season.

With Newcastle and Man United playing each other on Sunday, at least one will drop points, so three points for Liverpool would make the table look a lot kinder at the end of the weekend.

Here are 10 things you need to know ahead of a big match for the Redmen.

1. Will Haaland play?

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The Norwegian missed his country’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Spain and Georgia with a reported groin injury and is yet to be pictured in training prior to the match against Liverpool.

The striker instead returned from international duty early and then headed to Spain for treatment.

However, it is entirely possible that Erling Haaland will play, and that Pep Guardiola is just keeping his cards close to his chest.

In his press conference on Friday, his manager said: “Erling is recovering. We’ll see this afternoon. The last training is at 4pm and we will see how he feels.”

In any case, Man City haven’t done too badly without him over the last few years.

Phil Foden, meanwhile, was ruled out earlier in the week after undergoing appendix surgery.

Possible City XI: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Ake; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan; Bernardo, Haaland, Grealish

2. A tough place to go

They have been unlucky a couple of times but Liverpool’s Champions League victory, at the Etihad in 2018, remains their last win away against Man City.

From the five games played at City’s ground since then, Liverpool have taken just two points, however, their fortunes at Anfield have been very different.

In matches not at the Etihad, Liverpool have a much better record and upset the odds, earlier this season, to beat Guardiola’s team at Anfield.

3. Diaz back in the frame

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Luis Diaz hasn’t been seen in Liverpool red for nearly six months, but the Colombian not far off a return now.

After training with the team this week, he has edged closer to a comeback, however, it would be wise for Jurgen Klopp to ease him back in after his initial recovery was delayed when he required knee surgery during the World Cup.

Unfortunately, he is not to make the squad for the Man City match, but he could feature in the coming weeks.

“Luis is back in small parts of training after a very long time out.

“Next week we will increase that [intensity] and then he is ready, I think. We have to judge him every day how he deals with the intensity, it looks really promising,” Klopp said.

4. Key stats for you

• Should Mo Salah score he will become the Reds’ leading scorer away from home in the Premier League era. He is currently on 55 goals, alongside Michael Owen

• Salah could become the first Liverpool player in history to score against Man City in four games in the same season, having already netted in the Community Shield, Premier League and League Cup

• Never before have the teams drawn three successive league games in Manchester

5. Sticking with Gakpo?

The Dutchman missed the first part of the international break with illness but did play 45 minutes against Gibraltar on Monday, replacing the former-Liverpool player, Gini Wijnaldum, at halftime.

With Diaz back in the picture and Diogo Jota continuing to regain his match fitness, Cody Gakpo‘s spot in the starting XI may come under threat.

Expect Klopp to stick with the January signing against Man City, though, as too Darwin Nunez after a cut to his ankle that forced his withdrawal from international duty.

Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Elliott; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo

6. No Naby again

Liverpool’s already-depleted midfield suffered another blow this week as Naby Keita returned from international duty with an injury issue.

Klopp confirmed the reports before the weekend’s match in Manchester, saying: “Naby is out. He came back with a muscle injury from the national team.

“We will see how long it takes but the season is not too long.”

Promisingly, though, Klopp is hopeful of seeing Thiago return to “parts” of team training next week after missing the last eight games with a hip injury.

7. “Like a Champions League week”

The next few fixtures are among the trickiest that a Premier League club can face.

In the next week alone, Liverpool play Man City, Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and table-toppers Arsenal at Anfield – a run Klopp described as being “like a Champions League week.”

They are just the first three games in a month of seven fixtures, from which the Reds will need to take at least 15 of the 21 points on offer if they are to realistically have any chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Liverpool are currently seven points behind Tottenham in fourth but have two games in hand on the North London club.

8. Back after a break

Seventeen days have passed since Liverpool fell to a 1-0 loss at Bournemouth.

Once again, the Reds been given the Saturday lunchtime kick-off following an international break.

It is the sixth time already this season that Liverpool have played in the 12.30pm slot – the most in the league along with Saturday’s opponents.

Klopp’s side have not won any of their early kick-offs so far, losing two and drawing three – four of those five matches were away from home.

Now wouldn’t be a bad time to get the first, Reds!

9. Hooper in charge

Simon Hooper has been named as the referee for Saturday’s meeting game at the Etihad.

It will be the official’s third Liverpool game of the season, with the most recent fixture coming at Anfield for February’s Merseyside derby.

Hooper will have a difficult job on Saturday as the fixtures between Klopp and Guardiola’s team are always frantic and fraught with incidents.

John Brooks is the VAR.

10. Follow the match with TIA

Man City vs. Liverpool is live on BT Sport 1 with kick-off at 12.30pm (BST).

TIA’s matchday live blog will be up and running from 11.45am, with Sam Millne tasked with keeping you entertained and up-to-date.

Come on you Reds!

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