As the 2025–26 Premier League season nears its two-thirds mark, the title race is beginning to take shape. Arsenal sit atop the table with 56 points from 25 matches, while second-placed Manchester City trail by nine points after 24 games. With such a gap, some pundits already see the league trophy slipping towards the Gunners.
Against this backdrop, the significance of the upcoming Manchester City vs Liverpool clash may seem limited. Especially for Liverpool, whose title ambitions have all but dissipated: last season’s champions currently occupy sixth place in the table, trailing Arsenal by 17 points and City by eight.
Yet, the Anfield showdown, kicking off at 10:30 pm, carries weight for at least three compelling reasons, ensuring Premier League fans will be watching closely.
1. England’s ‘El Clasico’
Although the fixture lacks an official nickname, the City–Liverpool rivalry has acquired a near-mythical status over the past decade, largely due to Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp. Klopp has since departed, replaced by Dutch coach Arne Slot, who refers to this encounter as England’s own ‘El Clasico’.
Slot remarked: “This is going to be a fantastic match. Even before I worked here, when I was in Holland, I always knew when City would play Liverpool. I would watch it on television. It has the same excitement as a Clasico, where everyone anticipates the fixture eagerly.”
Historically, Anfield has proven a notoriously difficult ground for City. In their last 22 league visits, the club have lost only once, winning 14 times and drawing seven.
City, however, have a rare opportunity to make history: after a 3–0 victory at the Etihad in November, a win tonight would secure their first league double over Liverpool since the 1936–37 season.
| Team | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | 22 | 14 | 7 | 1 |
| Manchester City | 22 | 14 | 7 | 1 |
2. Injury Headlines
Liverpool welcome back Joe Gomez, who missed the previous two matches due to injury. Slot cautioned, however, that Gomez may not start but could provide vital support if needed, given a depleted defensive squad. Jeremy Frimpong remains sidelined after leaving the pitch with a muscular problem during the Champions League clash against Qarabag.
City also face fitness concerns. Bernardo Silva missed the recent Carabao Cup match against Newcastle after picking up an injury against Tottenham, and Guardiola admitted his captain’s availability is uncertain: “We’ll see tomorrow in training.”
Positive news comes in the form of Ruben Dias, returning from a month-long hamstring injury on the bench against Newcastle. Guardiola noted: “He’s back. We’ll see if he can play a few minutes, which is good news for us.”
3. City’s Drive to Maintain Momentum
Although trailing Arsenal by nine points, City carry the momentum of having secured a place in last week’s League Cup final. Guardiola’s squad remains active across all competitions, including the FA Cup, Champions League, and Premier League.
Tonight, however, they must overcome the Anfield challenge, where they have not won since February 2021. With title hopes still alive, each three points are crucial for City to keep pace with the league leaders.