Liverpool vs Manchester City Prediction: Crisis-Hit Reds Welcome Struggling Champions to Anfield

Match Details:

• Competition: Premier League (Matchday 24)
• Date: Saturday, February 8, 2026
• Kick-off: 16:30 GMT (11:30 AM ET / 17:30 CET)
• Venue: Anfield, Liverpool, England
• TV Coverage: Sky Sports (UK) / Peacock, USA Network (USA)

Current Form Analysis

Liverpool: Defending Champions in Crisis Mode

Liverpool currently sit in 5th position with 39 points from 24 matches (11 wins, 6 draws, 7 losses), a staggering 8 points behind leaders Arsenal. The defending Premier League champions' title defense has collapsed spectacularly, with their season derailed by the catastrophic Alexander Isak injury and tactical struggles under manager Arne Slot.

Current Premier League Standing:

• Position: 5th place
• Points: 39 from 24 matches
• Record: 11-6-7
• Goals Scored: 39
• Goals Conceded: 33
• Goal Difference: +6

Recent Premier League Results:

• February 1: Newcastle 4-1 Liverpool - Humiliating defeat
• January 25: Bournemouth 3-2 Liverpool - Defensive collapse
• January 17: Burnley 1-1 Liverpool - Frustrating home draw
• January 8: Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool - Goalless stalemate
• January 4: Fulham 2-2 Liverpool - Costly dropped points

The Alexander Isak Catastrophe:

The £125 million British-record signing from Newcastle has been an unmitigated disaster. Alexander Isak sustained a broken leg and fibula fracture after scoring against Tottenham in December, requiring surgery that will sideline him until at least late March or early April.

Manager Arne Slot's latest update (January 31): "No, he is not on the pitch yet. He is just out of his walker, so that tells you he is not expected on the pitch today or tomorrow. It will take a while before he is back, which we knew about."

Isak's Liverpool Career Statistics:

• Just 3 goals in 16 appearances across all competitions
• Struggled to displace Hugo Ekitike from starting XI
• Missed Newcastle's preseason while pushing for transfer
• Arrived at Anfield lacking match fitness

Comprehensive Injury Crisis:

Manager Arne Slot faces catastrophic absences for this crucial clash:

• Alexander Isak (broken leg/fibula - out until March/April) - Just out of walking boot
• Conor Bradley (knee surgery - season-ending) - Right-back ruled out for campaign
• Giovanni Leoni (ACL tear - season-ending) - Defender out for year
• Hugo Ekitike (muscle injury - sustained vs Qarabag) - Top scorer (13 goals) major doubt
• Jeremie Frimpong (muscle injury - 4 minutes vs Qarabag) - Out "a few weeks"
• Joe Gomez (injury - unavailable)
• Mohamed Salah (AFCON duty - potentially returned but fitness uncertain)

Defensive Makeshift Crisis:

With Bradley, Leoni, and Gomez all unavailable, Slot has been forced into tactical creativity:

• Dominik Szoboszlai deputising at right-back
• Ryan Gravenberch dropping into center-back
• Makeshift defensive partnerships

Key Performers (When Fit):

• Hugo Ekitike - 13 goals all competitions, crucial if fit
• Florian Wirtz - Creative midfielder, 27 chances created (0 assists converted until Isak)
• Virgil van Dijk - Captain and defensive leader
• Ibrahima Konaté - Defensive struggles (3 errors leading to shots - 8th-most in Premier League)

Manchester City: Champions Stuttering Under Pressure

Manchester City currently sit 2nd in the Premier League with 47 points from 24 matches (14 wins, 5 draws, 5 losses), trailing leaders Arsenal by 6 points. Under Pep Guardiola, the reigning champions have struggled for consistency, with away form particularly concerning.

Current Premier League Standing:

• Position: 2nd place
• Points: 47 from 24 matches
• Record: 14-5-5
• Goals Scored: 49
• Goals Conceded: 23
• Goal Difference: +26

Recent Premier League Results:

• February 1: Tottenham 2-2 Manchester City - Dropped points
• January 17: Manchester United 2-0 Manchester City - Derby humiliation
• December: Won 4 consecutive matches before United defeat

Away Form Crisis:

Manchester City's title hopes have stumbled with just 1 win from last 6 league matches. Most concerning: their away record has been disastrous, collecting just 11 points from last 8 away games, including defeats at:

• Aston Villa
• Newcastle United
• Manchester United

The Rodri Dilemma:

The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner returned from 11-month ACL injury but has been unrecognizable. Since Rodri's return, City have NOT WON A SINGLE PREMIER LEAGUE MATCH (3 draws, 1 defeat).

Guardiola (February 3): "Give it time, it's been eleven months. He needs time to recover... He is not at all physically fit."

Injury Concerns:

Manager Pep Guardiola manages several absences:

• Jeremy Doku (calf - out "couple of weeks") - Winger unavailable
• Josko Gvardiol (tibial fracture - surgery, season in danger) - Key defender out
• Ruben Dias (hamstring - expected back late February) - Defensive leader missing
• Mateo Kovacic (Achilles/ankle calcification - out "for a while") - Midfield depth lost
• Nathan Ake (foot fracture - surgery, 10-11 weeks) - Versatile defender sidelined

Key Performers:

• Erling Haaland - 20 goals in 24 matches, 65% of City's goal output
• Phil Foden - 7 goals, creative midfielder
• Antoine Semenyo - 6 goals since January signing
• Rayan Cherki - Recent signing adding creativity

Head-to-Head Record

Overall Record (Premier League):

• Liverpool unbeaten at Anfield with fans since May 2003 defeat
• Last City win with fans: 2-1 in May 2003
• COVID-era exception: City won 4-1 in February 2021 (empty stadium)

Most Recent Meeting:

• Estimated December 2025 at Etihad: Manchester City 4-1 Liverpool
• Humiliating defeat for Slot's side

Tactical Analysis

Liverpool's Approach

Expected Formation: 4-3-3

• Alisson Becker in goal
• Back four: Dominik Szoboszlai (makeshift RB), Ryan Gravenberch (makeshift CB), Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson
• Midfield: Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones
• Attack: Mohamed Salah (if fit), Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa

Our Prediction: Liverpool 1-2 Manchester City

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