Manchester City will face Liverpool at the Etihad stadium on April 11 in a crucial game for both teams, with City aiming for their third consecutive Premier League title and Liverpool hoping to secure a top-four finish. However, City will have to do so without the services of their prolific striker, Erling Haaland, who is set to miss the game due to injury.
City’s feeling the absence of Haaland
Haaland’s absence will be a huge blow for City, as he had been in scintillating form lately. The Norwegian striker scored eight goals in his last two games, including a hat-trick against West Ham. However, he suffered a groin pain after City’s FA Cup quarter-final match which led to doubts over his fitness ahead of the game against Liverpool.
Julian Alvarez to replace Haaland
City manager Pep Guardiola had hoped to assess Haaland’s fitness during Friday’s training session but the striker didn’t get off the bus and was not included in the squad for Sunday’s showdown. Julian Alvarez is expected to start instead of Haaland alongside Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez.
Klopp frustrated with Liverpool’s inconsistency
Meanwhile, Liverpool are aiming to close the gap to the top four and improve their consistency. Manager Jurgen Klopp has been increasingly frustrated with his team’s lack of consistency this season. However, Liverpool’s front three of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo have been performing well lately.
Key players to watch from both sides
Key players for City include Grealish, Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan. They will be key in providing creativity and goals upfront in Haaland’s absence. On the other hand, Liverpool will be relying heavily on Salah to produce the goods upfront.
City’s aim to reduce the gap
City will be looking to reduce the gap between themselves and league leaders Arsenal to five points with a win against Liverpool. They have won their last six games, including a hard-fought victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
Liverpool’s hopes to derail City’s title challenge
Liverpool, on the other hand, will be looking to build on their recent win over RB Leipzig in the Champions League as they aim to derail City’s title challenge. The Reds are hoping for a more consistent and dominant performance in midfield to close the gap to the top four.
Lineups and injuries
Both teams have announced their lineups and confirmed injuries ahead of the game. Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez has recovered from an ankle cut but only starts on the bench, while City were already without Phil Foden who underwent surgery to remove his appendix.
Streaming options available for fans
For fans unable to attend in person, various streaming services are available to watch the match live, including Peacock in the US, BT Sports in the UK, FuboTV in Canada and Optus Sport in Australia. Using a VPN is also recommended for fans wanting extra privacy and preventing ISP throttling.
In conclusion, without Haaland leading their attack, City will face a stiff challenge against Klopp’s Liverpool side. Both teams will be determined not only to win this game but also to send a message of intent in their pursuit of their respective targets. Fans all around the world will eagerly tune in for what promises to be an exciting encounter.
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