Liverpool vs Man City 2/1 Bet Builder – Mark O’Haire
Liverpool’s latest match-up with Manchester City is the marquee match this weekend in the Premier League. Recent meetings between the pair have been fiercely contested, often defining the title race, though the two teams head into Sunday’s showdown with question marks surrounding their campaign with both struggling for consistency.
Injuries haven’t helped either sides cause. Defending champions Liverpool will again be without both right-backs for the Anfield encounter with Dominik Szoboszlai potentially in-line to start at full-back again. Meanwhile, Manchester City are hoping to have Rúben Dias back in the fold with fellow centre-halves John Stones and Joško Gvardiol still absent.
Double Chance –
Liverpool or Draw
Anfield has not been a happy hunting ground for Manchester City. Incredibly, the Citizens have won just once here in 22 meetings with Liverpool (W1-D7-L14) here and are chasing their first league double over the Reds since 1937. Pep Guardiola’s group have failed to succeed here at odds of 2.06, 1.90 and 2.39 in three of their last four trips to Merseyside
Manchester City have also toiled when travelling to the top six teams in recent times, posting W2-D4-L7 in their last 13 such trips. Despite enduring a difficult title defence, Liverpool have only been turned over three times in 16 as hosts this season, with Real Madrid and Arsenal beaten here. The Reds arrive having W9-D6-L1 in their past 16 outings.
Both Teams to Score – Yes
Manchester City managed only two clean sheets in 13 away days with top six teams, though the Citizens will expect to notch themselves here – eight of 12 visiting teams to Anfield have done so in the Premier League this season with seven out of 12 of Liverpool’s home showdowns seeing both teams to score bank. The duo have each scored in 20 of their 24 EPL outings thus far.
Total Goals – Under 4.5
Since the opening day, Liverpool have returned 10 under 3.5 goals winners at Anfield in 11, with those matches on Merseyside averaging a surprisingly low 2.36 goals per-game. Manchester City’s matches have rarely escalated into shootouts this season with just three of 24 league dates delivering 5+ strikes, including just once away from The Etihad.
Total Cards – Under 5.5
Craig Pawson has been handed the whistle, and the arbiter is averaging just 2.21 cards (23.21 BP) per-game across his 14 league assignments this season – in 12 of 13 EPL encounters, the referee has produced under 3.5 cards. Another low count appeals here with 11 of the last 13 Liverpool vs Manchester City fixtures featuring fewer than six bookings.
