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2022/23 English Premier League
Matchday 29
Manchester City v Liverpool
Etihad Stadium
Manchester, England
Saturday, 1 April 2023
Kick-off is at 13h30
Manchester City will look to keep their
Premier League title defence alive when they welcome Liverpool to the Etihad Stadium in the lunch-time kick-off on Saturday, April 1.
The Citizens saw Arsenal go eight points clear at the top of the table with a 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace prior to the international break on March 19, with Pep Guardiola's side having been on FA Cup duty that weekend.
City had edged the Eagles 1-0 at Selhurst Park the previous weekend to make it three wins in a row and extend their unbeaten run in the league to six matches.
Neighbours Manchester United had all but blown their title chances after crashing to a heavy 7-0 defeat against the Reds at Anfield before being held to a goalless draw by rock-bottom Southampton at Old Trafford.
As such, the Red Devils trail their city rivals by 11 points in third place with a game in hand, while the Merseysiders are a further eight points adrift in sixth place.
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Jurgen Klopp's team were back to their inconsistent selves as they followed up their mauling of United with a 1-0 loss to Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on March 11.
An eighth defeat of the season halted a five-match unbeaten sequence for Liverpool, who are tied with Brighton (7th) and Brentford (8th) on 42 points.
Kevin De Bruyne has been integral to City's title challenge this season as their chief creator of goals, registering 13 assists in 25 top-flight appearances. The Belgian midfielder may not have contributed as many goals as last season (15) but he's already surpassed his tally of eight assists in 2021-22.
Cody Gakpo is starting to find his feet at Anfield after making a slow start to his career in England. The January signing from PSV Eindhoven failed to score in his first three outings but has bagged four goals in his next six games, including a brace against fierce rivals United.
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In team news, the hosts must do without Phil Foden, who underwent surgery last weekend for acute appendicitis, while Erling Haaland (groin) is rated doubtful. Calvin Ramsay (knee) and Stefan Bajcetic (groin) are long-term absentees for the visitors, who will check on the fitness of Thiago Alcantara (groin), Luis Diaz (knee), Joe Gomez and Darwin Nunez.
Guardiola is adamant that success this term will hinge on how City perform in April as they continue to pursue silverware on three fronts.
"Of course, it is going to decide [the success of our season] because we make an incredible February and an incredible March, and when you pass April, an incredibly successful May will be so important," the Spaniard said.
"Being in April, being there and alive in the competitions (Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League), we have done really well. That is no secret."
Klopp has stressed the importance of finishing the campaign strongly in a bid to finish in the top four, having lost ground in the race for UEFA Champions League football with the setback at Bournemouth.
"Our job is to squeeze absolutely everything out of this season what is possible," the German said. "It's a strange one. Our recent two games, obviously a sensational performance against Manchester United, which is a real good football team.
"And then a really bad performance against Bournemouth, which is a good football team as well, but we should not lose this kind of game. It put us then under more pressure.
"There is again distance because other teams won their games... it is clear, we want to be top four."
Head-to-Head (Last Five Premier League Meetings)
Matches - 5
Man City - 1
Liverpool - 1
Draws - 3
Matchday 29 fixtures:
Saturday, April 1
13h30: Manchester City v Liverpool
16h00: Bournemouth v Fulham
16h00: Arsenal v Leeds United
16h00: Brighton & Hove Albion v Brentford
16h00: Crystal Palace v Leicester City
16h00: Nottingham Forest v Wolverhampton Wanderers
18h30: Chelsea v Aston Villa
Sunday, April 2
15h00: West Ham United v Southampton
17h30: Newcastle United v Manchester United
Monday, April 3
21h00: Everton v Tottenham Hotspur
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