Premier League Quick Preview: Liverpool Vs Manchester City
The weekend’s standout fixture closes Sunday at Anfield, where the only side with a perfect record meets the side with the meanest defence in the country right now.
Manchester City have won all five, scored 13 and sit top with a three-point cushion, having come through a 5-3 against Sunderland that was rather less comfortable than the scoreline suggests.
Liverpool are sixth on nine points and unbeaten, but three draws from five leave them six off the top - though they have not conceded a goal in over a month. City are favourites on betting apps.
This will be City's first fixture since being found guilty by the Premier League on 115 charges, something Liverpool fans will no doubt remind them off at Anfield.
Nothing In, Everything Out
Liverpool have kept three consecutive clean sheets and have not conceded since the 70th minute on August 29. All four goals they have shipped came in their opening two games.
City are the opposite: they have scored in every game, but both their clean sheets came in 1-0 wins, and in the other three they conceded five.
City’s fixtures are averaging 3.6 goals to Liverpool’s 2.2, and none of Liverpool’s last three games has gone over 1.5.
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The Numbers Don’t Believe City
Liverpool have averaged 15.2 shots a game to City’s 13.6, and racked up 27 in that 2-2 draw at St James’ Park - 16 of them blocked.
City have won at least four corners in every game and out-cornered the opponent in four of five, 31-21 overall; Liverpool have been out-cornered 22-20 and have won more than their opponent only once.
The underlying numbers cut against the table. City have scored 13 from 10.50 expected goals and conceded five from 7.25 against - a swing of nearly five goals in their favour across five matches. Against Sunderland they lost the expected-goals battle 3.57 to 2.82 and won 5-3.
Hot Streaks & Stats:
- Just one of Liverpool’s last six league fixtures was decided by a multi-goal margin.
- Liverpool have conceded 2+ goals in just one of their last eight domestic home games.
- City have won the corner count in seven of their last nine matches.
- Six of City’s last eight domestic matches produced over 2.5 goals.
Early Season Team Streaks
- Liverpool’s opponents 1+ cards - 5 games
- Liverpool 11+ fouls committed - 5 games
- Liverpool 10+ shots registered - 5 games
- Liverpool 3+ shots on target - 5 games
- Liverpool 3+ corners won - 5 games
- Liverpool's opponents 9+ shots allowed - 5 games
- Manchester City’s opponents 1+ cards - 5 games
- Manchester City 2 or fewer cards received - 5 games
- Manchester City 1+ goal scored - 5 games
- Manchester City 4+ corners won - 5 games
Early Season Player Streaks
- Alexander Isak 1+ shot on target - 5 games
- Erling Haaland 1+ shot on target - 5 games
- Alexander Isak 2+ shots - 5 games
- Dominik Szoboszlai 2+ shots - 5 games
- Florian Wirtz 2+ shots - 5 games
- Erling Haaland 2+ shots - 5 games
- Dominik Szoboszlai - 1+ foul committed - 5 games
- Milos Kerkez 1+ foul committed - 5 games
- Elliot Anderson 1+ foul committed - 5 games
- Alexis Mac Allister 1+ tackle - 5 games
- Jeremy Jacquet 1+ tackle - 5 games
- Milos Kerkez 1+ tackle - 5 games
- Antoine Semenyo 1+ tackle - 5 games
- Elliot Anderson 1+ tackle - 5 games
Liverpool fans have had a few weeks to plan on how they will welcome Manchester City to Anfield in the first game after the international break - and the first since City were found guilty by the Premier League of all 115 charges.
On the pitch, Liverpool need the three points to avoid falling nine points behind their rivals, who won both league meetings and their FA Cup quarter-final by a combined 9-1 score.
