Sunday’s Premier League headline act pits the reigning champions Manchester City against table-toppers Liverpool at Anfield in a battle of the titans. A win for Arne Slot’s high-flying Reds could extend their already commanding lead over City to 11 points, potentially ending Guardiola’s quest for a fifth consecutive title with only a third of the season completed.

Liverpool set the stage for this encounter by overcoming their Real Madrid curse in the Champions League on Wednesday, where a rare missed penalty by Mohamed Salah proved inconsequential. Goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo, combined with a remarkable penalty save from Caoimhin Kelleher to deny Kylian Mbappe, ensured Liverpool maintained their 100% start in the competition.

That victory followed a nervy win at Southampton last weekend, where the bottom-placed Saints nearly handed Slot his first away loss as Liverpool boss before Salah’s second-half brace turned the tide. The Reds remain safe atop the table, with an insurmountable lead regardless of Sunday’s outcome. Liverpool enters this showdown on a six-game winning streak in all competitions, scoring at least twice in each match. Their defensive form at Anfield has also been impressive, keeping clean sheets in recent clashes against Real Madrid, Aston Villa, and Bayer Leverkusen. Slot, who has joined the elite club of Premier League managers with 10 wins in their first 12 games, now seeks to uphold a positive Liverpool tradition—none of their last six managers have lost their first league match against the reigning champions.

While Slot celebrated a win over the European champions, his former club Feyenoord stunned Guardiola’s City in a historic Champions League clash. Despite racing to a 3-0 lead by the 53rd minute, City collapsed spectacularly, conceding three goals in the final 15 minutes as David Hancko completed Feyenoord’s comeback.

The dramatic collapse highlighted City’s current struggles. Guardiola’s side is winless in six matches across all competitions, their worst run in years. Last weekend’s humiliating 4-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur leaves City at risk of dropping out of the top four, with Arsenal, Chelsea, and Brighton just one point behind. Furthermore, City’s last four away games have all ended in defeat. Yet, City’s attacking prowess away from home remains a silver lining. Guardiola’s men have scored in 26 consecutive road games, last drawing a blank at Aston Villa a year ago. Additionally, City is unbeaten in four matches against Liverpool since losing at Anfield in October 2022. However, Guardiola’s 27% win rate against Liverpool—the lowest of any team he’s faced at least five times—looms as a worrying omen. Liverpool has received a timely boost with Trent Alexander-Arnold declared fit to start on Sunday, following his return as an unused substitute against Real Madrid. However, the Reds face defensive concerns, with Conor Bradley suffering a suspected hamstring injury and Ibrahima Konate sustaining a leg issue midweek. Joe Gomez could make his first league start of the season alongside Virgil van Dijk, while Curtis Jones might make way for Dominik Szoboszlai. Elsewhere, Liverpool continues to miss Federico Chiesa, Diogo Jota, Alisson Becker, and Kostas Tsimikas, none of whom are expected to return until December.

City, meanwhile, welcomed Ruben Dias back to the bench against Feyenoord and could see Jeremy Doku return from a thigh injury. However, John Stones, Rodri, Oscar Bobb, and Mateo Kovacic remain sidelined. Guardiola faces a tactical dilemma in midfield, with Kevin De Bruyne and Matheus Nunes both vying for prominent roles after bright performances midweek.

Despite their struggles, City’s attack will likely pose problems for Liverpool’s potentially makeshift defense. Yet Guardiola’s backline continues to flirt with disaster, and the absence of a midfield enforcer like Rodri could prove costly. Liverpool’s momentum and Anfield fortress might hand the champions their most devastating defeat yet, striking a major blow to their title defense.

Best Tip: Over 1.5

Correct score: 3-2