Manchester City will be looking to close the gap on league-leaders Arsenal when they face Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
Pep Guardiola's side secured their place in the FA Cup semi-finals after thrashing Burnley earlier this month, with City also cruising to the Champions League quarter-finals after overcoming RB Leipzig in the last-16.
The Blues were 1-0 winners at Crystal Palace in their last Premier League clash thanks to Erling Haaland's second-half penalty. With the Gunners not in action until later in the day, City - who have a game in hand on Mikel Arteta's men - can close the gap to five points.
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Haaland appeared to miss City training on Thursday, and Guardiola admitted the club would have to monitor the player's fitness during his pre-Liverpool press conference on Friday afternoon.
Unless anything drastic happens before kick-off, Ederson will start against Liverpool at the weekend. The goalkeeper couldn't feature for Brazil during the international break due to illness, but he trained as normal on Thursday and should be fit enough to play against the Merseyside outfit.
Guardiola has used several different defensive combinations so far this season, but he could revert to a more recognised back-four for the game against Jurgen Klopp's side. Kyle Walker played both matches for England against Italy and Ukraine and should be picked ahead of Rico Lewis, while Nathan Ake remains the first-choice left-back after Joao Cancelo left the club in January. At the heart of defence, John Stones is expected to be named in the starting line-up, but it remains to be seen who could potentially partner him. Having gone with Ruben Dias in the last Premier League game, Guardiola might do the same against Liverpool.
In midfield, Kevin De Bruyne is expected to start, as is Rodri. Therefore, it should be either Bernardo Silva or Illkay Gundogan alongside them. The latter was on the scoresheet in the 7-0 thrashing over RB Leipzig earlier in the month and it was the German ace who started in the game against Klopp's men back in December. Meanwhile, Rodri, who came under criticism for his reaction to Spain's defeat at Scotland, is a vital cog in City's machine, while De Bruyne will be aiming to register his 11th goal contribution against the Merseyside club.
With Haaland having seemingly missed training on Thursday - and Guardiola coy on his fitness - it would seem a surprise to see him start against Liverpool. Therefore, Julian Alvarez might get his chance to start as a sole striker. The Argentine ace has only started six times in the Premier League this term, but he has registered 12 goals in all competitions. On the wings, City will be without Phil Foden after he underwent an operation for appendicitis, so Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish are likely to be named in the line-up.
Predicted line-up vs Liverpool: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Ake; Rodri, De Bruyne, Gundogan; Mahrez, Alvarez, Grealish.
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