Liverpool vs Manchester City preview, lineups, h2h: Son of Nigerian father eyes upset

Liverpool’s opponent of Nigerian descent Rio Ngumoha will be aiming to make a mark when his side invites Manchester City head to Anfield on Sunday, October 11, 2026, in a matchday 6 Premier League kick-off.

An outcome in any case would move the table meaningfully, because City showed up with an ideal 5 wins from 5 and Liverpool with 2 wins and 3 draws from the very same variety of video games.

Erling Haaland has actually scored 5 objectives in those 5 City looks, and his battle with a Liverpool back line missing out on 2 routine beginners of its own appear like the information that chooses this one. Ngumoha, on the other hand, has actually included in 3 video games this season, however he is yet to rating.

This is likewise City’s very first match given that an independent Premier League panel discovered the club guilty of 114 of 115 charges associating with breaches of its monetary guidelines, a decision City is appealing, and Enzo Maresca has actually utilized the week to firmly insist the title record developed under him because June is not polluted by it.

Match Facts · Liverpool vs Manchester City

Competitors: Premier League, Matchday 6

Date: October 11, 2026

Kickoff: 4:30 pm WAT

Place: Anfield, Liverpool

Referee: Chris Kavanagh

League positions: Liverpool 6th · Manchester City 1st

Last conference: Manchester City 4-0 Liverpool, April 4, 2026

Gamer To Watch: Rio Ngumoha Nigerian Origin

Liverpool assailant Rio Ngumoha is one to see in this component due to his Nigerian roots. He presently bets England’s Three Lions, however he might have quickly been betting the Super Eagles of Nigeria. He was born in England to a Nigerian dad and a Guadeloupean mom, which likewise makes him qualified for France.

From his earlier years, it was constantly either Nigeria or England. The 18-year-old winger has actually sometimes leaned into his Nigerian side, like when he shared himself rocking a retro Super Eagles jerysey on social media.

Liverpool question kid Rio Ngumoha vibing with the renowned Nigerian Jersey. Do you believe he should bet Nigeria? https://t.co/dFweh0VWA5– Timz (@Timz_LFC) May 15, 2026

His choice to bet the Three Lions is a blow for Nigeria, offered his enormous skill and the scarceness of fatal wingers in the Super Eagles setup. That will certainly be the least of his concerns at Anfield on Sunday, as he hopes to get into Iraola’s beginning eleven.

If he begins, he will certainly provide the Manchester City backline a run for their cash with his rate and active feet. He is likewise a ready shooter, as he can let loose a belter from anywhere around package. Ngumoha can likewise produce an efficient display screen from the left or the.

Liverpool vs Manchester City: Form Guide

Manchester City have actually won all 5 Premier League matches up until now this season, a run that has actually produced an objective distinction of +8 from 13 objectives scored and 5 yielded.

Haaland has actually supplied nearly half of that overall on his own, with an expected-goals return of 4.43 that matches his real output practically objective for objective, though Rayan Cherki and Iliman Ndiaye have actually likewise produced frequently from the half-spaces either side of him.

Liverpool, on the other hand, have actually won 2 and drawn 3 without losing, a start that leaves them 6th with 9 points, 7 objectives scored and 4 yielded.

Andoni Iraola’s side have actually not lost a league video game yet this season, however 3 attracts 5 matches is a soft return for a group lots of anticipated to promote the leading 4, and their objectives have actually originated from 4 various gamers instead of a single reputable source.

5 video games is still a little sample this early in a 38-game season, yet City’s best record and Liverpool’s draws have actually currently opened a six-point space in between very first and 6th.

Liverpool vs Manchester City: Head-to-Head

The 2 sides have actually satisfied 5 times throughout competitors in the previous 2 seasons, with Manchester City winning 3 and Liverpool winning 2.

City’s run of wins consists of a 4-0 FA Cup triumph on April 4, 2026, a 2-1 league win at Anfield on February 8, 2026, and a 3-0 league win on November 9, 2025.

Liverpool’s 2 wins both was available in the Premier League, a 2-0 win away at the Etihad on February 23, 2025, and a 2-0 win in the house on December 1, 2024.

At Anfield particularly, the record in this run is even, with one win each because December 2024, which refutes dealing with Sunday as an inevitable conclusion regardless of City’s existing kind.

Secret Battles To Watch Out For In Liverpool vs Manchester City

Haaland versus Van Dijk

Erling Haaland has actually scored 5 objectives from his 5 Premier League looks this season, landing 10 of his 20 shots on target along the method, and he will invest Sunday afternoon performing at Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool’s captain and the gamer most accountable for including him.

Van Dijk has actually begun every league video game up until now this season as Liverpool’s senior centre-back, and his placing versus a forward who ratings from narrow half-chances as easily as wide-open ones will choose how frequently City in fact test Alisson.

If Haaland is provided even a lawn of area in behind, his record this season recommends he will penalize it, which puts additional weight on Van Dijk winning the very first contact in every aerial and footrace battle.

Wirtz versus City’s midfield pivot

Florian Wirtz has actually begun to discover pockets of area in between challengers’ lines in current weeks, and how Enzo Fernandez and Elliot Anderson screen those pockets will form Liverpool’s finest path back into the video game.

Wirtz has one help in the Premier League up until now this season and a typical match ranking of 7.41, numbers that undersell how frequently he has actually turned defence into attack for Liverpool as soon as he gets the ball dealing with forward.

Fernandez and Anderson will be asked to divide that task in between pushing him early and dropping to secure the area in behind, and whichever one City sacrifice will inform Liverpool where to assault.

Gvardiol versus Barcola

A 3rd contest worth seeing is out large, where Josko Gvardiol will need to protect Bradley Barcola in the channel City have actually looked most exposed in this season.

Barcola’s speed in behind is Liverpool’s quickest method to turn a City error into a scoring opportunity, and Gvardiol’s determination to tuck infield to assist City’s double pivot can leave precisely that channel open.

Liverpool will lack Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpotheir 2 first-choice forwards, both eliminated with injuries detected worldwide task, while Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni stay out longer term and Federico Chiesa is still working his method back from injury without a single minute played this season.

Jeremy Jacquet has actually been cleared to play after being rested for the last round simply as a safety measure, Alisson continues as an automated option in objective, and Lewis Koumas is anticipated to lead the line in Isak and Gakpo’s lack.

Anticipated XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Jacquet, Gomez, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Barcola, Koumas, Wirtz.

Manchester City have their own lack on top end of the pitch, with Phil Foden serving the last match of a three-game suspension for violent conduct in last month’s Manchester derby, though Antoine Semenyo has actually trained generally today after a small knock sustained on worldwide task and Nico O’Reilly stays a physical fitness doubt with a muscle issue. With Gianluigi Donnarumma settled in objective and a bench that still consists of Jeremy Doku, City have adequate assaulting cover to soak up Foden’s lack for another match without altering their technique.

Forecasted XI (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol; Fernandez, Anderson; Ndiaye, Cherki, Semenyo; Haaland