Klopp should have most of his World Cup stars back and ready to face City including Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, and ...
[Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/5XstioL80j5xvix2FgayOv?si=c6005a65bcb245e7) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdlFklV55ZttMuLE6hf3FdA) Early Manchester City Team [Premier League](https://www.si.com/soccer/liverpool/news/premier-league-top-scorers-2022-23) on Boxing Day. [Jordan Henderson](https://www.si.com/soccer/liverpool/exclusive-interviews/exclusive-i-dont-think-his-time-is-up-glen-johnson-on-jordan-henderson-being-a-starter), Fabinho, and [Darwin Nunez](http://Darwin-Nunez-Scores-Goal/). Manchester City Team
Manchester City and Liverpool meet in the League Cup in their first competitive match since the World Cup in Qatar. Follow all the latest updates.
1.5 hrs before kickoff: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of Manchester City vs. It could have been 6-4 City on the balance of the chances. 1 hr 15 mins before kickoff: An early blow for Liverpool, who will be without Roberto Firmino tonight due to a calf problem. You'd have put your house on him hitting the target. the flag was up for offside. This game getting bitty with all these late subs, but still plenty of time for the visitors to get back into it. Feisty end to the game. If VAR had been in place tonight, the red card might have got an outing there. The Norwegian is in behind from a Gundogan through ball but completely miscues on his left foot to send the ball high and wide of the goal. Liverpool put a rare spell of possession together before Matip squeezes a lovely pass in to Milner in the box and the Englishman squares it to tee up Carvalho for a simple sidefooted finish. De Bruyne swings in another beauty of a cross from the left and Ake steals in at the back post to nod it home. 1
For the first time in over five weeks, Jurgen Klopp's side are in competitive action and Stefan Bajcetic has been handed a place in the XI against Man City.
[Mohamed Salah](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/mohamed-salah/) is out to score for the third time against City this season as he starts alongside [Darwin Nunez](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/darwin-nunez/) and [Fabio Carvalho](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/fabio-carvalho/). [Man City](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/man-city): Ortega; Lewis, Akanji, Laporte, Ake; Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Gundogan; Mahrez, Haaland, Palmer [Ben Doak](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/ben-doak/), with [Naby Keita](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/naby-keita/), [Fabinho](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/fabinho/) and [Jordan Henderson](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/jordan-henderson/) also available to the boss. [Roberto Firmino](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/roberto-firmino/), meanwhile, is [absent](https://www.thisisanfield.com/2022/12/roberto-firmino-absent-vs-man-city-with-calf-injury/) with a minor calf injury sustained during training. [Adrian](https://www.thisisanfield.com/tag/adrian/), Phillips, Tsimikas, Ramsay, [Fabinho](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/fabinho/), Henderson, Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Doak [Thiago](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/thiago/), Elliott; Salah, Nunez, Carvalho [Stefan Bajcetic](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/stefan-bajcetic/) makes only his second start for the club next to [Thiago](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/thiago/) and [Harvey Elliott](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/harvey-elliott/). [Caoimhin Kelleher](https://www.thisisanfield.com/tag/caoimhin-kelleher/) starts behind a backline of [James Milner](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/james-milner/), [Joel Matip](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/joel-matip/), [Joe Gomez](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/joe-gomez/) and [Andy Robertson](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/andrew-robertson/). [Jurgen Klopp](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/jurgen-klopp/)โs side are in competitive action and [Stefan Bajcetic](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/stefan-bajcetic/) has been handed a place in the XI against [Man City](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/man-city).
Liverpool return to action tonight with a heavyweight Carabao Cup tie against Manchester City, with youngster Stefan Bajcetic handed a start in midfield but ...
Manchester United vs Charlton [Charlton](/topic/charlton) Athletic were the only non-Premier League club in the hat for the quarters and face a tough challenge against [Manchester United](/topic/manchester-united) at Old Trafford next after stunning top-flight Brighton on penalties after a goalless draw at The Valley on Wednesday evening. [Manchester City](/topic/manchester-city) booked their place in the last eight on Thursday night after outduelling fierce rivals Liverpool 3-2 in a thrilling affair at the Etihad Stadium, with their reward for that breathless victory coming with a trip to face familiar opponents Southampton at St Maryโs next month.
In goal, Caoimhin Kelleher will continue to deputise with distinction, and I suspect James Milner will line up at right-back alongside Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and ...
Meanwhile, after six weeks without a competitive kick of a football, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino are freed from their shackles against the familiar foe. At the heart of defence it's the returning Joel Matip alongside Joe Gomez. It's a strong team but victory will really open up the field in this competition. Harvey Elliott completes the engine room. Midfield, as ever, is the tricky one. In midfield, it's more of the same from the Reds as Harvey Elliott and Stefan Bajcetic will be handed the opportunity to impress alongside Thiago Alcantara again, this time at the home of the reigning Premier League champions. Left-back can be Andy Robertson, and given how well he did in the meeting between the sides in October, James Milner can be right-back. After the World Cup finals in Qatar finished just four days ago, both managers will be without a number of their star players for the fourth round tie as both clubs had representatives in the latter stages of the competition and Sunday's showpiece final. While the back five the Reds boss is set to name is almost nailed on given that Caoimhin Kelleher, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Andy Robertson have all spent the last two weeks training with one another in both Dubai and back at the AXA Centre, I would be open to making one change. And that's even without turning to the majority of the Reds' representatives in Qatar, who surely won't be featuring. [Mohamed Salah](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/all-about/mohamed-salah) from the start alongside Roberto Firmino and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Darwin Nunez can wait in reserve. In midfield, this might be an ideal chance for Stefan Bajcetic to start at the base alongside Harvey Elliott and Thiago Alcantatra.