Manchester City vs Liverpool – The stakes, the stage, the storyline – It’s the Premier League’s defining modern rivalry, back at the Etihad on Sunday, November 9, 2025 – and the table context is tight.
After 10 matches, City sit 2nd on 19 points, Liverpool 3rd on 18, with Arsenal leading on 25. City have won 9 of their last 10 league home games (four straight, 13 goals), while Liverpool arrive on a worrying run of three consecutive away defeats.
Arne Slot’s champions did the double last season—two 2–0 wins—and are unbeaten in four against City in the league (W2 D2). They even won 2–0 at the Etihad last term; Liverpool have never won successive Premier League visits here.
There’s milestone theatre too: Pep Guardiola’s 1,000th match as a manager (and 550th in charge of City) is set for this fixture. It comes against the opponent he’s lost to most as a manager (10, level with Spurs).
Manchester City vs Liverpool – Where to Watch
Watch the Manchester City vs Liverpool and all Premier League action, along with all top five European football leagues — the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1 — live and exclusive on setantasports.com. Enjoy world-class coverage, expert commentary, and nonstop action from football’s biggest stars and clubs.
Beyond football, Setanta Sports also brings you the best of global sport, including UFC, F1, basketball, tennis, and more — all in one place, anytime, on any device.
To get a discount on a subscription, you can use promo codes: NEWS25 or YEAR25.
- NEWS25 – 30% off a monthly subscription
- YEAR25 – 30% off a yearly subscription
You can also begin the subscription process by clicking on one of the banners below.
The old promo codes NEWS24 and YEAR24 are still active.
Form & momentum
- Manchester City (Home form): W3–0 vs Man Utd, W5–1 vs Burnley, W2–0 vs Everton, W3–1 vs Bournemouth.
- Liverpool (Away form): L1–2 at Crystal Palace, L1–2 at Chelsea, L2–3 at Brentford.
Across 10 matches, City own the 2nd-best attack by goals (20) and strong underlying numbers (xG 18), while Liverpool lead the league for shots (156) but with a lower conversion so far (11.5%). City have also conceded only eight—a top-three defense by raw goals—while Liverpool’s 14 against ranks mid-table.
Transitions could decide it: both teams top the league for fast breaks (16 each), with City already scoring four times from them (Haaland 3, Reijnders 1).
Haaland vs Van Dijk, and the Salah factor
Erling Haaland is chasing history. He has 13 goals in 10 PL games this season and has scored two in each of his last four league home matches. If he bags a brace here, he’ll reach 100 PL goals faster than anyone (108 apps). Yet Liverpool have limited him better than almost anyone: 1 goal in 4 PL games vs Liverpool, xG 1.39 total, and just 7.1% conversion. He’s also found it tough head-to-head with Virgil van Dijk (2 goals in 7).
Mohamed Salah remains Liverpool’s ace in this matchup—top scorer in this PL fixture (9) and 13 total vs Guardiola’s City, more than any other player. He scored in both 2–0 wins last season. He’s also just equalled Wayne Rooney’s record for most PL goal involvements for a single club (276) and reached 250 goals for Liverpool in all competitions.
Midfield balance & selection themes
City’s control often flows through Rodri; notably, two of City’s three league defeats came in matches he didn’t start this season, highlighting his influence on stability and circulation.
For Liverpool, Slot dialed back the summer overhaul against Aston Villa: only two new signings started (Ekitiké and Mamardashvili), a pragmatic reset after a rough patch. Big-fee arrivals Isak and Wirtz have only one assist between them so far in 863 minutes.
Set pieces & corners
An unusual quirk: all 20 of City’s league goals this season are from open play—they’re the only team without a set-piece strike. Corner output reflects that: City 0 goals from corners (xG 1.95) with Phil Foden the main taker, while Liverpool also 0 goals from corners (xG 1.88) so far.
Implication: expect both sides to rely on structured open-play mechanisms—City’s patient occupation and wide isolations; Liverpool’s direct switches and Salah-triggered combinations—rather than dead-ball dominance.
Tactical keys
- First goal pressure: City have scored first in eight league matches (W6 D1 L1) and lost both times when conceding first. Liverpool are perfect when scoring first (6/6). The opening goal will dramatically tilt the risk balance.
- Right-side matchups: City’s creators (Foden, Doku) vs Liverpool’s left channel; Liverpool’s Salah/overlaps vs City’s left-back lane. City rank high for possession won in the final third (39)—counter-press traps could suffocate Liverpool’s build if they hesitate.
- Transitions and protection: With both sides among the most prolific fast-breakers, rest-defense structures (full-back positions and holding mids’ spacing) will be decisive.
What it means
With Arsenal out in front, a City win would steady a title push built on home dominance; a Liverpool result would flip the narrative after a poor away run and extend their recent head-to-head edge.
Prediction (edge & context, not a guarantee)
- Edge: Manchester City at home, given recent Etihad form and Liverpool’s away slide.
- Wild card: Salah’s record vs Guardiola’s City; if Liverpool reach him early and often, the champions can change the tone fast.
Watch Manchester City vs Liverpool live on setantasports.com.
