Manchester City vs. Liverpool - Preview , available players,prediction, missing players, team news, lineups, kick - off time ,key players to miss the clash
The fate of the Premier League trophy will not be decided this weekend, but Manchester City's top-of-the-table clash with Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium could provide a very clear indication of which side will propel themselves to the title.
The gap at the top of the table is now just one point, with the reigning champions just about holding off the threat of the Reds for the time being.
Both teams are coming off first-leg victories in the Champions League quarter-finals, with City defeating Atletico Madrid 1-0 and Liverpool defeating Benfica 3-1.
Team Updates
The big injury news from the Man City camp is the continued absence of centre-back Ruben Dias, who is recovering from a thigh injury but will not be ready for Sunday's game.
Cole Palmer is still out with an ankle injury but was never in contention to start this one, and Guardiola will welcome back a well-rested Kyle Walker from a Champions League ban.
Walker could be pushed back to the right as Joao Cancelo returns to the left in place of Nathan Ake, who impressed against Atletico, and John Stones replaces Dias alongside Aymeric Laporte.
Guardiola should consider recalling Foden after his impressive performance off the bench against Atletico Madrid as the 21-year-old, who could be Riyad Mahrez and ex-Red Raheem Sterling flank him here.
Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold returned from a hamstring injury much sooner than expected, and Naby Keita played 89 minutes against Benfica despite a knee injury.
Fabinho left the game with a cut to the head but did not sustain a concussion, and Klopp stated at his press conference that he expects everyone to be fit and available for the top-of-the-table clash.
Konate, who was at fault for Nunez's effort at the Estadio da Luz, will almost certainly make way for Joel Matip, while Alexander-Arnold should be fit enough for another start on the right.
Jordan Henderson was also among the substitutes for the Benfica win, but he will expect to be called up ahead of Keita - though he will not walk back into the side - and Klopp is in a bit of a pickle in attack.
Mohamed Salah has struggled since returning from international duty, but Klopp cannot afford to rest the Egyptian for this game, leaving Mane, Diaz, Jota, and Firmino to compete for the final two attacking spots.
With this weekend's game being more important than the second leg against Benfica due to their two-goal advantage in that tie, Klopp may opt to name an unchanged frontline with Diaz and Mane partnering with Salah.
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