Manchester City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, speaking to Sky Sports: "[Jack Grealish] is feeling unwell. John [Stones] is not ready either but is on the bench. We play with 11 players, that’s for sure.

"Both teams are there [at the top]. We both compete for Premier Leagues, our games have been so, so tight, many times. The quality of the manager, Liverpool itself, the players - it’s there.

"With all due respect to Liverpool, we've prepared the same way. Both teams want to attack, the transitions are unbelievable. I think it’ll be an attractive game, as it has been in the past years.

"If you sit deep, they have a lot of passes. They have good deliveries from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kostas Tsimikas. Liverpool are a team that are built to run and attack the box quickly."

Glenn Murray
Former Brighton striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Jurgen Klopp has been playing the game by saying that Man City have the best squad in the world. There is definite needle there.

I do feel that if anyone is going to challenge Manchester City this year then it will be Liverpool that run them close. It feels like Liverpool are getting better week-by-week but I just think City will have to much come the end of the season.

That might not be in the case in this game though. I would like to see Liverpool to make it a really entertaining Premier League season for the neutral.

We keep thinking City are hitting a rocky patch but they just keep coming back and getting better and better. They will want to make history and win both the Premier League and Champions League again.

Image source, Getty Images

These two teams and two managers have had plenty of battles over the years and this is another between the Premier League's top two.

City have won five of the past six titles with Liverpool clinching the other - the only two champions since Chelsea's 2017 triumph.

Man City boss Guardiola, who used to manage Bayern Munich, and Liverpool boss Klopp, who was in charge at Borussia Dortmund, have faced each other more than they have encountered any other manager - 28 times.

Klopp has won 11 of those head-to-head meeting, with Guardiola successful in 10.

"[Klopp] made me better," said Guardiola.

"Him and his teams, here and Dortmund, have always been big rivals.

"They are good games for both, positive approach and always attractive. He made me a better manager through his teams."

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp speaking to Sky Sports on how they can beat Manchester City: "A little bit of what Chelsea did when they were super aggressive and unpredictable.

"Everyone who pressed made the final step, these kinds of things. The respect they create, the threat they are, it holds you back from time to time because nobody wants to look silly.

"In the best games we ever played, we lost the most challenges. If we let them roll with it, then they are too good and it's really tricky.

"If you can interupt that rhthym then we can have our own moments. We will see, we are prepared as good we can be but the boys have to do it now."

Is this a test of whether Liverpool can challenge City for the title? "That depends really on the game. Of course we should play a good game today. Let's see.

"I will know more after the game. Of course it's a test in the sense of football in general."

Paul Robinson
Former Tottenham and England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

Dominik Szoboszlai has been great for Liverpool.

People have spoken about the impact that James Maddison has had at Tottenham but Szoboszlai is the same at Liverpool.

That was an area they were struggling in, but they've strengthened. Liverpool are a different team to what they were last year.

They've got more Premier League experience, they are winning games when last year they might not have.

Michael Brown
Former Manchester City midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

It is very open at the top. It is a massive game and I think it'll be a very interesting game coming off the back of the international break.

You've got to say though that Manchester City are still favourites.

Liverpool have just crept up nicely. They had a poor season last year but they are putting the pressure on. It sets up a fascinating game. If Liverpool can get a regular system going in midfield they will improve again.

Pep Guardiola tells Sky Sports that Jack Grealish is unwell so that is why he's not in the Manchester City squad today.

Image source, Getty Images

Erling Haaland has scored 49 goals in 47 Premier League matches for City.

A goal on today would mean breaking the record for fastest to 50 - with Andy Cole's 65-game feat the swiftest on record in the Premier League era.

Liverpool are one of two teams - along with Brentford - that Haaland has faced and not yet scored against in the competition.

Will that change today?

Image source, Getty Images

Mohamed Salah has scored 198 goals in all competitions for Liverpool and he starts today hoping to add to that tally.

He could become the fifth player to reach 200 for the club after Ian Rush, Roger Hunt, Gordon Hodgson and Billy Liddell.

He’s scored 11 goals for the Reds against Manchester City (only netting more against Manchester United - 12).

That is the highest amount any player has scored against sides managed by Pep Guardiola.

Image source, BBC Sport

Erland Haaland starts as Pep Guardiola makes just one change to the Manchester City team that started the 4-4 draw with Chelsea before the international break.

Nathan Ake comes in for Josko Gvardiol, who is joined on the bench by John Stones.

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Walker, Ruben Dias, Akanji, Ake, Rodri, Foden, Alvarez, Bernardo Silva, Doku, Haaland.

Subs: Ortega, Carson, Phillips, Stones, Gomez, Gvardiol, Bobb, Lewis.

Image source, BBC Sport

Jurgen Klopp makes two alterations to the Liverpool side that defeated Brentford 3-0 at Anfield.

Alexis Mac Allister returns from suspension, while Curtis Jones is also included after recovering from a thigh problem.

Wataru Endo and Cody Gakpo drop to the bench.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones, Salah, Nunez, Jota.

Subs: Kelleher, Gomez, Endo, Konate, Diaz, Gakpo, Elliott, Gravenberch, Quansah.

Team news coming up in a few minutes. Here's what we know...

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he was hopeful Erling Haaland will be fit to play after sustaining an ankle injury.

Ederson and Nathan Ake could also play despite withdrawing from international duty.

Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister is available again after serving a ban.

Paul Robinson
Former Tottenham and England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

Man City are the benchmark, aren't they? They are the ones. Anyone who finishes above them will the Premier League. We say that so often.

The sustainability, longevity and quality they have over the length of the season, it is up to someone else to match that and get past City.

Image source, BBC Sport

Manchester City are top. Liverpool are level on points with Arsenal in second, but with a better goal difference.

The top five are only separated by three points coming back from the international break.

Here's what's coming up today. All kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated otherwise.

Manchester City v Liverpool (12:30 GMT)

Burnley v West Ham United

Luton Town v Crystal Palace

Newcastle United v Chelsea

Nottingham Forest v Brighton

Sheffield United v Bournemouth

Brentford v Arsenal (17:30 GMT)

Image source, BBC Sport

The Premier League is back and we're in for a treat this lunchtime as the top two sides go head-to-head.

Manchester City take on Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium ahead of five matches kicking off at 15:00 GMT.

This is the fourth Premier League meeting between Manchester City and Liverpool with both sides starting the day in the top two.

Only three fixtures have been played more often in the competition’s history.

Elsewhere, Arsenal, who are level on points with Liverpool in second place, travel to Brentford for the late kick-off at 17:30 GMT.

We'll have updates from all the drama here.