Liverpool face Manchester City on Sunday in a match that could decide who emerges as Arsenal’s closest challenger in the Premier League title race.
Arsenal’s six-point lead over City and seven-point gap over Liverpool leave both sides with little room for error as they both seek to stay in touch with the Gunners.
The Reds enter the match on the back of morale-boosting wins over Aston Villa and Real Madrid, while City remain buoyed by the unstoppable form of Erling Haaland, who is closing in on becoming the fastest player to score 100 Premier League goals.
This modern rivalry between England’s dominant forces of the past decade has consistently delivered drama, and Sunday promises more of the same.
Having failed to beat Liverpool in their last four meetings, including two defeats last season, City will be out to settle the score in this latest chapter of their feud.
Guardiola reaches 1,000-game milestone
Sunday marks Pep Guardiola’s 1,000th club match as a manager.
The Spaniard has redefined football across his 18-year stint as a manager and his career statistics are staggering.
Across 999 games with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and City, Guardiola boasts a 70% win rate with just 128 defeats.
He has also won 14 major trophies.
“The numbers are insane, I’m sorry to tell you.” Guardiola said.
“I’m not thinking how many but when you have the milestones and you read what you have done, the victories, the average, not just in Premier League but in the Champions League too, we have won incredible things in Barcelona, Bayern Munich and here.
“It is difficult to reach and if I start again I would not reach it, it is too much games. A few defeats, compared to 1,000 games and hopefully on Sunday I hope we can continue.”
Despite last season’s dip, City have collected more points in the league than any other side since April.
Much of this success is thanks to Haaland, who has started the season in imperious form.
The Norwegian has scored 13 goals in 10 league games, and is leading the league in XG (10.25), shots taken (43), and shots on target (25).
With Haaland in the vein of form he is currently in, Guardiola will be feeling good about turning his 1,000th game into a win.
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Liverpool looking to sustain momentum
Arne Slot has urged his Liverpool side to build on their recent resurgence after four consecutive league defeats derailed their early-season momentum.
“For me, we have reached that level of performance against Madrid in other games as well when the playing style of the opponent was compared to that,” said the Dutchman.
“We always knew we were able to do so.
“It was helpful to us that the other team did what I expected because in eight out of 10 games this season we have faced a different playing style than these teams played before.
“Although there is still a lot of work to be done from the players to get a result like that.”
After a period of tactical tinkering at the beginning of the season, Slot appears to have returned to the core that delivered him last season’s title – reinstating the midfield trio of Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, and Alexis Mac Allister, while restoring Andy Robertson at left-back.
The Real Madrid game also saw Florian Wirtz shifted from attacking midfield to the left wing in a move to get more from the £116 million man.
The German playmaker produced his most influential performance yet in a Liverpool shirt, creating five chances against Los Blancos.
With Mohamed Salah rediscovering his sharpness and combining fluidly with Szoboszlai on the right, Slot may have finally found the balance his side has been searching for.
Manchester City team news
Matteo Kovacic is City’s only guaranteed absentee, sidelined for the next few months with an ankle injury.
Rodri is also expected to miss out.
The defensive midfielder has struggled to play to his previous levels following his return from an ACL injury, and is likely to be rested until after the international break.
Rayan Cherki has also returned to the team after regaining fitness and looks to be forming a strong connection with Haaland – assisting both of the Norwegian’s goals against Bournemouth last Sunday.
Liverpool team news
Liverpool’s only confirmed absentees are Jeremie Frimpong, who is out until December, and Alisson Becker, who is set to return after the international break.
Arne Slot has revealed that Alexander Isak could return to the bench after recovering from a groin problem.
Slot must also decide whether to rest Andy Robertson after three consecutive starts – and may restore Milos Kerkez to the starting XI to rest the Scot.
Mohammed Salah will also be looking to make further history in a red shirt on Sunday.
The Egyptian is currently level with Wayne Rooney on 276 goal contributions for one club in the Premier League, and could move clear with a goal or an assist against City.
Having looked renewed in the last two games, Salah could add yet another accolade to his storied Liverpool career.
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Adam Peaker 
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