Liverpool line-ups for Man City as Ibrahima Konate replacement named and Luis Diaz decision made

One of the most hotly anticipated fixtures of the Premier League season takes place today as Liverpool welcome Manchester City to Anfield (4pm kick-off). It is simply a huge match for both teams.

For Liverpool, victory would extend their lead at the top to nine points and, perhaps even more significantly, leave them 11 points clear of defending champions City, who have won the last four titles.

Indeed, the word from inside the Etihad camp is that Pep Guardiola's side cannot afford to lose after a horror run of three straight league defeats and five in their last six matches in all competitions.

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That's in complete contrast to the Reds, whose magnificent 2-0 Champions League victory at home to Real Madrid in midweek means Arne Slot has now won 17 of his first 19 games in charge of the club.

So how does Slot, who could be without up to six players this afternoon, line-up for the visit of City? Our Liverpool writers have their say...

Ian Doyle

They don't come much bigger than this one. And in the case of both Liverpool and Manchester City, there are plenty of injuries with which to contend. Obviously not as bad as those at Arsenal, though.

What, then, is Reds boss Arne Slot to do?

Alisson Becker isn't ready to come back so Caoimhin Kelleher stays in goal. At right-back, the injury to Conor Bradley means Trent Alexander-Arnold is straight back in, while Andy Robertson must continue at left-back. But the injury to Ibrahima Konate means a change at centre-back, and I'd have Joe Gomez in alongside Virgil van Dijk.

In midfield it's tempting to start Dominik Szoboszlai but his energy can be saved for the second half. So Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister are the defensive midfielders with Curtis Jones in the number 10 role.

Up top, Mohamed Salah is on the right and Darwin Nunez down the middle. And Luis Diaz has done enough to stay on the left.

My team (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Jones, Diaz; Nunez.

Paul Gorst

The biggest game of the season was an inopportune time to lose an Ibrahima Konate in the form of his Liverpool career. The absence of Conor Bradley is also not ideal but Trent Alexander-Arnold is on the way back at least.

An injury to Kostas Tsimikas has made the decision at left-back more straightforward and Joe Gomez gets the nod over Jarell Quansah to partner Virgil van Dijk.

In midfield the decision revolves around what to do over Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai. The latter is an important tactical cog and his boundless energy could be crucial in the midfield battle but Jones was sensational against Real Madrid on Wednesday night, so he can’t be overlooked.

Up top, Cody Gakpo is staking a real claim but Luis Diaz might have a field day against an out-of-sorts Kyle Walker. Darwin Nunez keeps his place.

My team (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Jones, Diaz; Nunez.

Theo Squires

Manchester City won’t keep slipping up forever, but it sure would be nice if Liverpool could extend both their lead at the top of the table and Pep Guardiola’s side’s misery at Anfield on Sunday.

They’ll have to overcome their growing injury list first though. Arne Slot said Trent Alexander-Arnold would be fit enough to start after being left unused against Real Madrid, so he’s straight back in at right-back in place of the injured Conor Bradley.

That frees up Joe Gomez to start at centre-back alongside Virgil van Dijk in the absence of Ibrahima Konate, as the Reds reunite their Premier League title-winning defence of 2019/20.

Alas, it’s not the full back five with Alisson Becker seemingly not back yet. By this point, no-one batters an eyelid at Caoimhin Kelleher starting in goal though.

I’m going unchanged in midfield after a superb display in the engine-room against Real Madrid, so Dominik Szoboslzai is restricted to substitute duty.

And in attack, I’m really tempted to recall Cody Gakpo after his goal off the bench in midweek, but I want to see Luis Diaz unleashed against Kyle Walker on the left-flank. So it’s a natural number nine upfront in Darwin Nunez.

My team (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Jones, Diaz; Nunez.