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The final spot in the Carabao Cup quarter-final lineup is up for grabs as Manchester City host Liverpool in a heavyweight fourth round showdown at the Etihad Stadium this evening. Though domestic action has been back for two nights now following the World Cup break, this latest clash between two increasingly fierce rivals should really light the touch paper on what should be a thrilling second half of the 2022/23 season.
Recent encounters between the two leading clubs in English football have been blighted by fan issues, with both sides urging calm and respect after the events that transpired at Anfield back in October. Pep Guardiola claimed to have had coins thrown at him after a typically fiery Premier League meeting, while City fans were condemned for chants and graffiti related to the Heysel and Hillsborough disasters.
Hopefully tonight will just be about the football, with the likes of Mo Salah, Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne all starting in a blockbuster contest before the Premier League restart, while the Reds also field 18-year-old Stefan Bajcetic. Follow Man City vs Liverpool LIVE below!
Live updates
KICK-OFF
1 min: Underway at the Etihad!
An immediate chance for City is spurned by a rusty Haaland, who dinks his first-time effort straight into the stands after a fine pass from Gundogan.
That could easily have been 1-0 City inside the first minute.
Not a great start from young Bajcetic.
The two teams are in the tunnel after a lively light show at the Etihad.
Kick-off is just minutes away!
Final preparations at the Etihad!
The final place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals is up for grabs in a blockbuster clash between two of English football’s biggest clubs.
These fixtures are never dull…
When asked about City’s returning World Cup stars, Guardiola tells Sky that he had no other choice but to pick them.
He is still clearly irritated by the scheduling, with many other countries having weeks off before resuming domestic competition.
He says Haaland is still some way from full fitness after experiencing pain in Abu Dhabi, but he is full of confidence in young Rico Lewis.
When asked how he feels about facing City at this stage of the Carabao Cup, a seemingly relaxed Klopp simply laughs and says: “Great!”
He added: “When you see it – it’s city, away, oh great. But I’m sure City have thought similar stuff about us.
“It’s not too cool but it just shows how the competition goes. There are not that many rounds to go and you can face proper and tough opponents.
“We have that tonight. We are here and we will give it a try.”
Speaking in his pre-match interview with Sky Sports, Klopp says Salah looked “exceptional” throughout the mid-season break.
“He wants to make this a special season for himself and for us,” he says of the Egyptian talisman.
Haaland and Mahrez start for City
Despite both lacking a bit of fitness, Erling Haaland and Riyad Mahrez both start for City this evening.
World Cup stars such as Manuel Akanji, Aymeric Laporte, Nathan Ake, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan are all present in a strong XI, along with youngsters Rico Lewis and Cole Palmer.
There’s no Ederson, so German deputy Stefan Ortega lines up in goal.
A very strong City bench contains many of their other World Cup players such as Kyle Walker, John Stones, Joao Cancelo, Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden.
Also hoping for some minutes tonight are SergioGomez and their own teenage midfielder in Alex Robertson.
Liverpool hand start to teenage star Bajcetic
So Liverpool do hand a second senior start to 18-year-old Spanish midfielder Stefan Bajcetic, who already has five first-team appearances under his belt this term and was also picked for the penalty shootout win over Derby in round three before the World Cup break.
Elsewhere, James Milner and Joel Matip both start despite social media whispers over potential injuries.
Jordan Henderson is on the bench after England’s World Cup exploits, along with the fit-again Naby Keita and Brazilian Fabinho.
Also among the substitutes is teenager winger Ben Doak, though Kaide Gordon is still on the comeback trail.
As expected, Roberto Firmino joins Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Arthur Melo and Curtis Jones in the treatment room.
Virgil van Dijk, Alisson and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all still off, with Darwin Nunez up front alongside Mo Salah and Fabio Carvalho.
Man City lineup
Man City XI: Ortega, Lewis, Akanji, Laporte, Ake, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Mahrez, Haaland, Palmer
Subs: Carson, Walker, Stones, Cancelo, Grealish, Gomez, Bernardo, Foden, Robertson
Liverpool lineup
Liverpool XI: Kelleher, Milner, Matip, Gomez, Robertson, Bajcetic, Thiago, Elliott, Salah, Nunez, Carvalho
Subs: Adrian, Fabinho, Keita, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Tsimikas, Ramsay, Phillips, Doak
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