Man City predicted XI vs Liverpool, Haaland to return

Man City predicted XI vs Liverpool with Haaland fit and expected to return to the starting line-up.

In their matchup with Liverpool, Manchester City will aim to maintain their perfect start to the Premier League season.

Erling Haaland is fit and is anticipated to start against Liverpool on Sunday, so the City have no new injury concerns for their trip to Anfield.

Haaland remained on the bench for the entirety of City’s goalless draw with FC Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday, the first time he has done so this season.

The 22-year-old striker has had an outstanding start to life at the Etihad Stadium, scoring 20 goals in just 13 games.

Pep Guardiola said that the striker was exhausted and didn’t recuperate properly from the Southampton game last weekend.

Haaland is of course expected to start, and it seems likely that Phil Foden and Jack Grealish will join him in City’s front line.

Foden started Tuesday’s match on the bench for the same reasons as Haaland, but Guardiola has confirmed that the England star will be fine for Sunday.

Grealish did not enjoy his finest evening in Copenhagen, but he remains in good form and his ability to keep hold of the ball could come in handy against a Liverpool team that can launch devastating counter-attacks when given the chance.

Like Foden and Haaland, Bernardo Silva was deemed too tired to start midweek so he should return, while Kevin de Bruyne and Rodri are sure-starters.

Kyle Walker and John Stones remain unavailable through injury, meaning Guardiola will once again have to shuffle his defensive pack.

Manuel Akanji impressed at right-back against Southampton so he seems the best option, especially as it would allow Joao Cancelo to stay at left-back.

The Portuguese full-back has struggled to cope with the forays forward of Trent Alexander-Arnold in recent meetings with Liverpool, but the young Englishmen has been ruled out after suffering an ankle injury against Arsenal last weekend.

For a game of this magnitude against an opponent of Liverpool’s quality, it would be a surprise if Ruben Dias didn’t start at the heart of City’s defence.

Nathan Ake has performed well this season so seems his most likely partner, especially given that Aymeric Laporte – who at the moment cannot play every three or four days – started in midweek.