Liverpool host Premier League leaders Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday looking to cut into a six-point gap, with Andoni Iraola missing Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo and Enzo Maresca confirming Erling Haaland is fit for the trip.
The 16:30 UK kick-off is City's first league outing since an independent commission found the club guilty of serious Premier League financial-rule breaches. Maresca has said the Anfield atmosphere may be tougher because of that backdrop, while insisting his players are ready for the occasion.
Team news
Iraola ruled both Isak and Gakpo out of Sunday's match at his pre-match press conference. The pair were forced off international duty — Gakpo with an ankle injury after what Iraola called a bad tackle, Isak with a small thigh muscle injury — and neither is ready.
"Alex Isak and Cody Gakpo will not play the game. They are not ready," Iraola said, according to Liverpool's official site. He added that neither injury looks long-term and that the club will assess them day by day, but both miss the City game. Jeremy Jacquet is fit after sitting out France's last Nations League fixture as a precaution. Federico Chiesa has returned to training but has not played any competitive minutes since his pre-season injury.
For City, Maresca confirmed Haaland is available after the Norway striker came off during the Nations League loss to Portugal earlier this month. "He's good. He went to Marbella, [had] two, three days off, played golf, recovery. Ready for Anfield," Maresca said on Manchester City's official site. Phil Foden misses the trip while serving the final game of his suspension from the Manchester derby red card.
Form and stakes
City are the only side with a perfect Premier League record so far: five wins from five, 15 points and 13 goals scored. Liverpool are unbeaten under Iraola but have won only twice and drawn three times for nine points, leaving them sixth and six behind the leaders heading into Matchweek 6.
Iraola said his side need to be "very, very good" to beat City because of how many goals Maresca's team have been scoring. He also pointed to recent defensive improvements and the Anfield crowd as factors that can help. Maresca called it a tough test and said the focus has to stay on the game even if the environment is difficult.
Arsenal's 2-1 win over Leeds on Saturday left the champions level with City on 15 points, so a slip at Anfield would open the door for Arteta's side at the top of the table.
Charges backdrop
The Premier League has published that an independent commission found City guilty of the financial charges covering 2009–10 to 2017–18 and of most non-cooperation counts. City have lodged an appeal; any sanctions remain separate from the liability finding.
Maresca has publicly backed the club's appeal and said he trusts the people at the club. Neither side has framed Sunday's match as a verdict on the case — both coaches say the priority is the 90 minutes — but City will walk into a ground where the off-field story is already part of the reception.
What happens next
Kick-off is 16:30 UK at Anfield. Earlier on Sunday, Crystal Palace host Nottingham Forest and Hull City face Everton at 14:00 UK. Liverpool try to close the gap on the leaders without their two main injured attackers; City aim to keep their perfect league start intact on the road.