Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Erling Haaland will be fit for Sunday’s trip to Liverpool.
The Norway star was rested during Tuesday’s trip to Copenhagen after Guardiola admitted he had a poor recovery from the weekend’s win over Southampton.
However, Haaland is available and is likely to start alongside Phil Foden and Bernard Silva, who are also fit after recent fatigue concerns.
Kyle Walker, Kalvin Phillips and John Stones remain injured amid England concerns ahead of the World Cup, but City look strong in every other area.
Ruben Dias was left on the bench on Wednesday and Nathan Ake featured for just two minutes, suggesting both are likely to start at Anfield.
Of his injured England trio, Guardiola said on Friday: “John, I think he will be back, I don’t know when, but maybe in a week, ten days. Calvin is improving and improving a lot. Kyle is still out.”
Andy Robertson could return for Liverpool as they host Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday.
After more than a month out with a knee injury, the left-back came off the bench in the 7-1 win over Rangers and played just over 20 minutes, which may be enough to convince Jurgen Klopp to throw him into the Premier League squad. .
At the opposite end of the pitch, Trent Alexander-Arnold remains out and Joe Gomez is expected to start in his absence, while Joel Matip’s calf injury means Ibrahima Konate will partner Virgil van Dijk.
Klopp’s big decision is the shape he has chosen to face City, with Liverpool moving to a midfield two in the last two games to play for an extra striker.
It would be brave to do that against Pep Guardiola’s side, but both Roberto Firmino and Darwin Nunez are in fine form, while Mohamed Salah hit a hat-trick in just over six minutes off the bench against Rangers.
With Luis Diaz facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a knee injury, Diogo Jota is most likely to start on the left wing and then decide whether to drop one of Nunez or Firmino in favor of another midfielder.
Klopp revealed little in his pre-match press conference, although he hinted that an injury could be on the way.
“We still have to find out who is available after the Rangers game for City and then we will make the squad,” Klopp said.
“We have to see, there are no final decisions yet. We have to see.”
Predicted Liverpool XI:
Alisson, Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Thiago, Jota, Firmino, Salah, Nunez
Man City predicted XI:
Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Ake, Cancelo; Rodri, De Bruyne, Silva; Grealish, Haaland, Foden
Injured: Stones, Walker, Phillips
