Liverpool and Manchester City meet at Anfield on Sunday, October 11, 2026, in one of the biggest fixtures of Premier League Matchweek 6. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30pm BST.
Manchester City enter the international break top of the Premier League after winning all five of their opening league matches, while Liverpool are also unbeaten after two wins and three draws. City therefore arrive with the stronger league record, but Liverpool have improved defensively and have kept three consecutive Premier League clean sheets.
There is also significant team-news uncertainty around Liverpool. Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo have both returned early from international duty with injuries, while several longer-term absentees remain unavailable or are working towards returns. Manchester City, meanwhile, will be without the suspended Phil Foden.
Head-to-Head Summary
Manchester City have had the stronger results in the most recent meetings. Across the last 10 competitive matches between the clubs, City have won five, Liverpool have won three and two have ended level.
City have also won the three most recent meetings in all competitions. They beat Liverpool 3-0 at the Etihad and 2-1 at Anfield in the 2025-26 Premier League before adding a 4-0 home victory in the FA Cup quarter-finals in April 2026.
That represents a significant change from the previous sequence. Liverpool won both Premier League meetings in 2024-25 without conceding, following consecutive 1-1 draws in 2023-24. Across the last 10 competitive meetings, City have scored 18 goals to Liverpool's 11.
Anfield remains important context, however. Liverpool won 2-0 there in December 2024 and 1-0 in October 2022, while the March 2024 meeting finished 1-1. City broke that sequence with their 2-1 victory at Anfield in February 2026.
Last 10 Meetings
April 4, 2026 — FA Cup: Manchester City 4-0 Liverpool
February 8, 2026 — Premier League: Liverpool 1-2 Manchester City
November 9, 2025 — Premier League: Manchester City 3-0 Liverpool
February 23, 2025 — Premier League: Manchester City 0-2 Liverpool
December 1, 2024 — Premier League: Liverpool 2-0 Manchester City
March 10, 2024 — Premier League: Liverpool 1-1 Manchester City
November 25, 2023 — Premier League: Manchester City 1-1 Liverpool
April 1, 2023 — Premier League: Manchester City 4-1 Liverpool
December 22, 2022 — EFL Cup: Manchester City 3-2 Liverpool
October 16, 2022 — Premier League: Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City
The sequence shows how difficult it has been for either side to maintain control of this matchup for long periods. City have the stronger recent record, but Liverpool have already demonstrated several times that they can restrict City's attack at Anfield.
Liverpool Current Form
Liverpool's last five competitive matches have produced four wins and one draw. They beat Ipswich Town 2-0, Atlético Madrid 2-1, Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 in the EFL Cup and Bournemouth 1-0, with a goalless Premier League draw against Fulham in between.
That sequence has produced eight Liverpool goals and only two conceded. More importantly for Andoni Iraola, the defensive numbers in the Premier League have improved. Liverpool have kept clean sheets against Ipswich, Fulham and Bournemouth, giving them three consecutive league shutouts.
Their league record stands at two wins and three draws after five matches. Liverpool have scored seven and conceded four, leaving them unbeaten but already six points behind a Manchester City side that has taken the maximum 15 points.
Alexander Isak has provided an important source of goals. The striker has scored four times in five Premier League appearances, including the winner at Bournemouth, although his fitness has now become a major question ahead of City's visit.
Manchester City Current Form
Manchester City's start has been stronger. Their last five competitive matches have all ended in victory: 1-0 against Coventry City, 2-0 away to Porto, 1-0 away to Manchester United, 5-0 against Norwich City in the EFL Cup and 5-3 against Sunderland.
That gives City 14 goals scored and only three conceded across those five matches. The Sunderland game was considerably more open than their previous performances, but Enzo Maresca's team still found enough attacking quality to maintain their winning start.
In the Premier League, City are the only team with a perfect record after five rounds. They have won all five matches and have spent 52 per cent of their league minutes in a winning position, according to Opta's early-season analysis.
Erling Haaland remains central to that form. He has five goals from five Premier League appearances and has scored in four consecutive league matches. That places him one goal ahead of Isak heading into the international break.
Liverpool Team News and Injuries
Liverpool's situation will need to be monitored throughout the international break. Isak returned from Sweden duty after suffering what national-team coach Graham Potter described as a minor thigh problem. No confirmed return date has been announced, so his availability against City remains uncertain rather than confirmed either way.
Gakpo is another doubt. He sustained an ankle injury during the Netherlands' 2-1 victory over Serbia and withdrew from the remainder of international duty. Liverpool confirmed that he returned to the AXA Training Centre for further assessment, but the club has not announced a confirmed return date.
Hugo Ekitike remains a long-term absentee following an Achilles rupture, while Conor Bradley is still recovering from the significant knee injury that required surgery. Giovanni Leoni has been working towards a return to team training during the international break, while Federico Chiesa was also expected to resume training around this period. Their matchday availability should not be assumed until Liverpool provide a further update.
Manchester City Team News and Injuries
Manchester City's most definite absence is Phil Foden. The midfielder is serving a three-match domestic suspension covering the fixtures against Norwich City, Sunderland and Liverpool, meaning he is unavailable at Anfield.
Jérémy Doku has also been listed as a fitness doubt with a calf issue, although his status may change before October 11. With the fixture still nearly two weeks away and several City players involved internationally, final availability will become clearer closer to matchday.
Foden's absence is particularly relevant tactically because it removes one of City's most effective players between the lines. Maresca still has considerable attacking depth, but Liverpool will not have to account for Foden's movement and combination play around the penalty area.
Tactical Match Analysis
Liverpool under Iraola have increasingly shown that they can combine aggressive football with greater defensive control. Their three consecutive Premier League clean sheets are important because Manchester City will test both their defensive structure and their ability to survive periods without the ball.
Liverpool's pressing could become one of the defining features of the match. Allowing City to establish comfortable possession and progress through midfield would invite sustained pressure, but pressing too aggressively can also leave space behind the first line. Liverpool need to decide when to jump forward and when to protect central areas.
Transitions could provide their best attacking opportunities. City's territorial control naturally pushes players forward, and Liverpool have enough pace through players such as Bradley Barcola and, if available, Gakpo and Isak to attack space quickly after turnovers. Florian Wirtz's ability to receive between midfield and defence could also be important if Liverpool can bypass City's initial pressure.
For City, Haaland's positioning against Liverpool's centre-backs is an obvious focal point. He does not need many touches to influence a match, and his five league goals already demonstrate his early-season efficiency. City can also create from several areas, meaning Liverpool cannot simply defend narrowly around Haaland.
The battle for midfield control may ultimately decide which team can impose its preferred game. Liverpool will want enough pressure to disrupt City's rhythm without turning the contest into an uncontrolled end-to-end match. City will look to move Liverpool's press, create overloads and then find Haaland or runners attacking the spaces that appear.
Key Players to Watch
Erling Haaland
Five goals in five Premier League appearances make Haaland the clearest attacking threat. His movement against Liverpool's defensive line and ability to finish limited opportunities could be decisive, particularly if City control possession around the Liverpool penalty area.
Alexander Isak
Isak has four goals in five league appearances and scored Liverpool's winner against Bournemouth. His movement and finishing would give Liverpool an important outlet against City's defence, but his thigh problem means his fitness must be reassessed before the fixture.
Florian Wirtz
Wirtz could be particularly important when Liverpool break City's pressure. His ability to receive in central spaces and connect midfield with the attack offers Liverpool a route through City's structure rather than relying exclusively on direct transitions.
Antoine Semenyo
Semenyo gives City another direct threat around Haaland. He scored twice in the 5-3 victory over Sunderland and can attack space from wider areas, which could stretch Liverpool's back line and prevent the hosts from concentrating entirely on City's centre-forward.
What the Numbers Tell Us
Manchester City have won five, Liverpool three and two have been drawn across the last 10 competitive meetings.
City have won the last three meetings in all competitions, scoring nine goals and conceding only one.
Liverpool are unbeaten in their opening five Premier League matches, with two wins and three draws.
Manchester City have won all five of their opening Premier League matches and are the division's only team with a 100 per cent record.
Liverpool have kept clean sheets in each of their last three Premier League matches.
Haaland has scored five Premier League goals this season, while Isak has four.
The numbers create an interesting contrast. City's overall start and recent record against Liverpool are stronger, but Liverpool's improving defensive record and home advantage make this considerably different from a straightforward form comparison.
Who Has the Statistical Edge?
Manchester City hold the statistical edge entering the fixture. Five Premier League wins from five, five goals from Haaland and three consecutive victories over Liverpool provide a strong recent body of evidence. Their 4-0 FA Cup victory in April was especially emphatic, although managerial and squad changes mean that result should not be treated as a direct guide to this meeting.
Liverpool nevertheless have several factors working in their favour. They remain unbeaten in the league, have conceded only four times and enter the break after three consecutive Premier League clean sheets. Playing at Anfield also matters in a matchup where City have historically encountered difficult games.
A draw is therefore realistic. Liverpool's current defensive form gives them a route to keeping the contest tight, while City have the stronger attacking numbers and overall results. The fitness of Isak and Gakpo could shift the balance further: Liverpool will have a much greater transition threat if either or both are available.
Conclusion
Liverpool vs Manchester City brings together two unbeaten Premier League teams, but their opening records are different. Liverpool have gradually become more secure under Iraola and have kept three consecutive league clean sheets, while City have won every league match under Maresca and arrive with Haaland leading the Premier League scoring chart.
Recent head-to-head results favour City, who have won the last three competitive meetings, but Anfield and Liverpool's defensive improvement should make this a demanding test. Liverpool's biggest uncertainty concerns the fitness of Isak and Gakpo, while City will definitely be without the suspended Foden. On the currently available evidence, City have the statistical edge, but Liverpool's home record, unbeaten start and defensive form leave a draw as a credible outcome.