Liverpool XI vs Man City: Predicted lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Premier League today

Isak and Gakpo each returned from international duty early with respective thigh and ankle injuries, which could lead to a new role in the attack for headline summer signing Bradley Barcola at Anfield on Sunday.

“Cody has an ankle injury and it is a matter of him dealing with the pain,” Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola confirmed at his pre-match press conference on Friday. “It was a bad tackle.

"He is doing things individually. Alex has a thigh injury, it is a small injury but a muscle injury.

"They don't look like long-term [injuries]. We will be analysing day-to-day."

With Isak and Gakpo ruled out, along with long-term injury absentee Hugo Ekitike, it means all three of Liverpool’s natural centre-forwards will be unavailable for selection against Man City.

Therefore, Iraola will have to get creative. Youngster Lewis Koumas has been nameddropped by the Reds boss, though a lack of Premier League experience is likely to be a deciding factor.

Double injury blow: Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo are both sidelined for Liverpool

PA

That leaves the options of using Florian Wirtz as a false nine, or having Barcola - far more comfortable on the left-wing - operate through the middle.

Alternatively, pushing Wirtz further forward would allow Dominik Szoboszlai to regain his favoured No10 role - perhaps recreating the double false nine tactic adopted by Arne Slot in a 2-0 win over Man City during the 2024/25 title-winning campaign.

The good news for Liverpool is that Jacquet has shaken off a hamstring strain which forced him to miss France’s final Nations League game, meaning Iraola can keep faith in a back five that has kept three Premier League clean sheets in a row.

Predicted Liverpool XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Ngumoha, Szoboszlai, Barcola; Wirtz