Manchester City will take on Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, as both teams embark on a crucial month filled with important matches across various competitions.
Mohamed Salah is set to kick off his farewell tour with Liverpool, facing Pep Guardiola’s squad. While Salah anticipates a grand send-off at the season’s end, his team’s aspirations for silverware hinge on the FA Cup and the Champions League, with Liverpool slated to encounter defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals this month.
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Recently, City triumphed over rivals Arsenal in a Carabao Cup victory prior to the international break, marking just the start of what could be a domestic treble. Guardiola’s squad is also aiming to close the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal, with the possibility of another clash should both teams proceed in the FA Cup.
On the other hand, Liverpool is eager to avenge two prior defeats to City this season, which includes a thrilling 2-1 loss at Anfield. Pressure mounts on head coach Arne Slot as the outcome of this pivotal month could significantly influence Liverpool’s season and possibly his future in charge. Here’s everything you need to know.
When is Manchester City vs. Liverpool?
The match starts at 12:45pm BST on Saturday, April 4, at the Etihad Stadium.
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How can I watch it?
The game will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max, the new streaming platform for the broadcaster, which replaces Discovery+.
Viewers with subscriptions can log in to HBO Max using their existing credentials.
Confirmed Line-ups
Manchester City Starting XI: Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rodri, Bernardo; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku, Haaland
Subs: Donnarumma, Reijnders, Ake, Marmoush, Kovacic, Gonzalez, Ait Nouri, Savio, Foden.
Liverpool Starting XI: Mamardashvili; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Ekitike
Subs: Woodman, Mac Allister, Chiesa, Gakpo, Robertson, Frimpong, Nyoni, Morrison, Ngumoha.
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What is the Manchester City Team News?
Pep Guardiola has put together an attacking lineup featuring Jeremy Doku, Antoine Semenyo, and Rayan Cherki supporting Erling Haaland. James Trafford steps in as goalkeeper, while Abdukodir Khusanov partners Marc Guehi in defense. The only change from the Carabao Cup final sees Guehi replace Nathan Ake. Ruben Dias and John Stones are unavailable due to injuries.
What is the Liverpool Team News?
Mohamed Salah is ready to lead as he embarks on his farewell tour during the FA Cup quarter-finals. Giorgi Mamardashvili gets the nod in goal, with Alisson expected to miss several weeks due to a muscle issue. Joe Gomez starts at right-back, and Curtis Jones takes the place of Alexis Mac Allister in midfield. Alexander Isak is not included in the squad.
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What has Pep Guardiola said?
Guardiola expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming match against Liverpool, referring to them as “the biggest rival.” He acknowledged Liverpool’s significant investment in recent seasons and their standing as a top contender in the Champions League.
“We hope to perform as we did against Arsenal to move forward,” he remarked. “This match presents an opportunity to achieve an incredible milestone of reaching eight consecutive semi-finals, which has never been done before.”
Guardiola also paid tribute to Salah, stating, “He deserves incredible recognition for his contributions to football worldwide, particularly in this country.”
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What has Arne Slot said?
Slot is hoping for better luck against Manchester City this time around after suffering two defeats in the Premier League. He noted, “Securing an early lead has been challenging for us this season. Scoring goals is essential, and I’m pleased Alex [Isak] is back. With the added support from our fans for this FA Cup match, I believe we can create a lively atmosphere.”
He emphasized the importance of showing progress away from home after a strong performance against City at Anfield earlier in the season, despite some unfavorable refereeing decisions.