Liverpool will continue their trophy hunt away at Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday at 12:45pm.
Arne Slot’s side have endured a miserable Premier League title defence this season, but can still secure silverware before the end of the campaign. That effort starts by trying to end a three-year run without an FA Cup semi-final appearance.
Liverpool predicted lineup vs Man City
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.
Liverpool have already lost twice to Manchester City this season by a 5-1 combined scoreline, though they were four unbeaten in this fixture before that.
Liverpool team news vs Man City
Arne Slot has been juggling a lot of injuries recently, but he’s boosted by Jeremie Frimpong returning to training following a knock picked up during the international break.
The long-awaited return of Alexander Isak will also be most welcome for Slot, though the Sweden international is more likely to have his say off the bench.
However, Alisson and Wataru Endo are still sidelined until the start of next month at least, while both Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are out for the season.
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Both sides will be expected to field very strong line-ups in this match, especially given Arsenal’s nine-point lead at the top of the Premier League table, and the congested, brutal run required to win the Champions League.
Slot looking for strong Liverpool start
Liverpool’s downfall so many times this season has been allowing sides to get ahead via a sloppy mistake or switch-off at the back.
The Reds simply cannot let that happen against a side like City, and Slot has challenged his players to asser themselves in the game early, in front of a bumper bad of Liverpool supporters at the Etihad.
“I think we have felt this season multiple times how important it is to get a lead, we have struggled with that,” Slot said in his pre-match press conference. “It’s much easier than being 1 or 2-0 up. Scoring goals is vital, so I am happy Alex is back.
“The away game last season, we scored a set-piece, which is so important. We didn’t have that at the Etihad last season, they scored, we didn’t — had one disallowed. First half at Anfield, City dominated the ball, how impressive was it that we dominated the ball in the second half? How many teams do that?
“So that was a big step forward, but we have to show this as well in their stadium, which is harder than 60,000 at Anfield giving you the energy you need. We have more fans than normal because it is the FA Cup and I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re louder than them.”
