Manchester City

Man City boss Pep Guardiola speaking to Sky Sports: "Try to score goals. More offensive players and less midfield players. Maybe it will be good. We always try to control the game throught the ball but today at least to offer a threat one v one with the runners and hopefully we can find our pace and the right moments to attack.

"We know Liverpool are going to create. Always in previous seasons under Jurgen Klopp for the quality they have they have created chances.

"This year for our situation we do not challenge Liverpool but for many, many years they have been our rival. Arsenal was there as well but of course Liverpool have been there."

On Erling Haaland: "[The final decision was made] yesterday after training. He improved but he did not feel good. Hope so [back on Wednesday] but we will see.

"Obviously we miss him but during these nine years we played many times without really important players and we survived. This season we have had a lot of injuries at once so we could not survive but in individual games you have to do it."

On losing calm from team without Silva and Gundogan: "Maybe. They are the type of players to play this way but we need fresh, young players. Fresh legs and good energy. The game in Madrid was tough for us so today we decide to go for this.

"Some of the players that do not play today are legends of this club. They brought this club another step."

Let's hear the thoughts of both managers before kick-off, shall we?

Glenn Murray
Former Brighton striker on Football Focus

Regardless of this game, Man City will finish in the top four.

They have enough quality in their ranks to scramble into the Champions League positions.

It's a big game, more so for Liverpool. It has not been a happy hunting ground for Liverpool and they will want to put that to bed.

Liverpool are aiming to win a league game away to Pep Guardiola's Manchester City for the very first time.

If they manage that, they would claim just their third Premier League double against City following the 2-0 win at Anfield in December, having also won both fixtures in the 2005-06 and 2015-16 seasons.

But City's only defeat in their last 15 top-flight home matches against Liverpool was in November 2015, when they lost 4-1 in Jurgen Klopp's first match at the Etihad in charge of the Reds.

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter at Etihad Stadium

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has already admitted his side's hopes of a fifth consecutive Premier League title are over.

However, the visit of a Liverpool side who look certain to take their crown does give City a chance to lay down a marker - and cut the gap to Arne Slot's men to 14 points and jump above Nottingham Forest into third given the situation at Newcastle.

But, in his programme notes, Guardiola accepts victory will not be easy.

"These occasions are what we as professionals live for," he said.

!To test yourself against the very best is a privilege and an opportunity to learn and grow.

"My players know the challenge they face today. I want them to embrace it and play with courage."

Dion Dublin
Former Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

I would imagine van Dijk and Konate will be happy to hear that Haaland is not starting. Haaland likes the battle and the fight and Marmoush is quite elusive.

We haven't seen much of him but he has scored, which isn't bad. I think van Dijk and Konate can deal with Marmoush physically but is he is elusive he could cause problems.

Comedian and Strictly Come Dancing winner Chris McCausland shared his love for Liverpool before today's meeting with Manchester City.

Probably not one for the City fans out there, this.

Who are you having in your team if you could sign one?

Thumbs up for Erling Haaland, thumbs down for Mo Salah...

With his goal and assist against Aston Villa on Wednesday, Mohamed Salah has moved level with Erling Haaland for the most goal contributions of any player since the Norwegian came to the Premier League.

As well as boasting more goals, Haaland is also more clinical than the Egyptian, with his 24.3% shot-conversion rate superior to Salah's 18.2%.

Salah needs only six assists in the remaining 12 matches to break the Premier League's single-season assist record - and nine goals or assists to surpass Andy Cole and Alan Shearer for the most goal involvements in a top-flight campaign.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter at Etihad Stadium

Liverpool have a poor recent record at the Etihad Stadium but a trip to Manchester City holds no fears for star man Mo Salah.

The Egypt superstar has scored here on four occasions, including two on his last three visits.

You could say this about every game I guess, but if Liverpool are to win, Salah is probably going to be on the scoresheet.

Just as Liverpool look set to succeed Manchester City as champions, so Salah looks certain to win the Golden Boot prize Erling Haaland has won for the last two seasons.

It would be the fourth time Salah has won the award (two of the first three were shared) which would equal Thierry Henry's record.

Image source, Reuters

Agus: I think it is a mistake not having Diaz in place of Jones. With Darwin up top, his speed would be important against that slow City defence.

Jamie Carragher
Former Liverpool defender on Sky Sports

Before Virgil van Dijk came to Liverpool, the club would maybe have a title challenge every five years, that is what the numbers told you. A new coach would come in and build the side up to it and then they would fall away again.

The one season he suffered the ACL injury Liverpool didn't challenge for the title, every other season bar just one more, where the Club World Cup was in the middle of it, they have challenged. Every season bar just two. That shows the impact he has had on the club.

We have talked a lot in recent months about the contract situations but for me he is the one more than anybody that I think needs to be there at Liverpool next season.

Liverpool arrive at the Etihad today unbeaten in 22 Premier League games, since their only loss of the campaign against Nottingham Forest on 14 September.

It is their longest unbeaten run in the competition since their 44-game streak between January 2019 and February 2020.

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter at Etihad Stadium

I sent a picture over earlier to highlight the rubbish weather.

It's fair to say it has got a lot busier down on the touchline since then, with Manchester City's corporate guests getting a close-up view of the warm-up.

This is modern-day top-flight football in England. It is more akin to a show rather than just turning up to watch a football game.

Image source, Getty Images

As for the red corner, well, it's all going exceptionally well for Liverpool isn't it.

I'm not sure anyone, not even the man himself, would have expected Arne Slot to hit the ground quite as smoothly as he has since succeeding Jurgen Klopp in the summer.

But here we are, in late February, with Liverpool in the League Cup final, eight points clear at the Premier League summit, and into the Champions League last 16 after topping Europe's premier club competition's new-look table.

Slot has won 30 and lost just four of his 41 matches in charge - with two of those defeats effectively meaningless, against Tottenham in their EFL Cup semi-final first leg and at PSV Eindhoven when already qualified in the Champions League.

Daniel Sturridge
Former Man Cit, Chelsea and Liverpool striker on Sky Sports

For Man City it is now about getting into the Champions League but also building for next season.

There are players that will potentially be leaving this summer and they have brought in quite a few players that need time to settle - so they are already setting themselves up for next season.

You can never write them off. They have world class players and a world class manager.

It says an awful lot about the standards Manchester City have hit - and sustained - under Pep Guardiola that fourth place in the Premier League feels like a torrid season. Especially when two of the 'Big Six' sit in the bottom half.

But after the disappointment of Madrid, Guardiola will be desperately hoping his side can return to the level of performance they offered in last weekend's 4-0 win over Newcastle United.

Speaking of Newcastle, they have managed to hold on to beat Nottingham Forest 4-3 - a result which confirms City can go third with a win today.

Roy Keane
Former Manchester United captain on Sky Sports

Pep Guardiola will want a reaction from his side this afternoon. City are obviously not going to win the league this season but he won't want Liverpool to come here and win either.

He has a rebuilding job to do this season, they have fallen far behind the other teams. But look at his record, if anyone can do it, he can. I certainly won't be writing him off.