Premier League: Red-Hot Haaland Faces the Reds

Manchester City vs Liverpool

There are only two sides that have won the Premier League title over the past eight years, and they meet at the Etihad Stadium this Sunday afternoon.

Indeed, for four years, Manchester City and Liverpool were regarded as the teams to beat. Some say they still are, although the red half of North London would now argue otherwise.

Whatever your stance, though, there is no denying they are two of only three clubs that are realistically able to win the title at this moment in time, and that could mean Premier League 2025 highlights aplenty in this one.

 

Talking Points

That City go into the contest one point and one place above their opponents in second place only adds to the importance of the fixture.

Liverpool have had an enjoyable few days with home wins over Aston Villa domestically and Real Madrid in Europe, providing them with a boost. This followed a run of six defeats in seven in all competitions for the red half of Merseyside.

City had a sticky spell of their own in August with back-to-back league defeats at home to Spurs and away at Brighton, but have since recovered, although a reverse at Aston Villa a week last Sunday cost them vital ground at the top.

To this SBOTOP observer, they are still not as convincing as they were between 2021 and 2024.

Yet when they have a frontman in the form that the ruthless Erling Haaland is in, it can cover a lot of ills. The Norwegian was at it again in midweek with a customary goal against his former employers, Borussia Dortmund, which took his tally so far to 27 for club and country.

He has seven more league goals than anyone so far, which highlights just how prolific he is given the right service, while Phil Foden is pushing for an England recall after another impressive showing in the same game in midweek.

Liverpool’s own lethal weapon has been less sharp this season, although Mohamed Salah did score his 250^th goal for the club in their 2-0 home win over Villa, and the footballer of the year remains a genuine world-class talent even at the age of 33.

He will have his work cut out against new goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who has been an impressive deadline day signing and filled the gap left by the Brazilian Ederson.

Meanwhile, the big pre-season title favourites remain packed with talent, but they are not in the position they expected to be ahead of the final international break of the calendar year.

Certainly, if either side were to lose this one, they would potentially lose key ground in the race to reclaim or retain the title.

 

History

The sides met twice last season and Liverpool won both on their way to ending City’s four-year reign as champions.

At Anfield, Liverpool took advantage of City’s poor run of form, with Cody Gakpo and a Salah penalty winning the day. It was the same scoreline in February when Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai netted in the first half and City failed to take their chances.

That was their first win on City turf for almost a decade. The previous season saw both meetings end one apiece.

Haaland and Trent Alexander-Arnold were the marksmen in the game at the Etihad Stadium, while John Stones and Alexis Mac Allister (penalty) were the men on target at Anfield four months later.

Overall, Liverpool have won 110 of their clashes with 60 City successes and 58 draws.

Their very first meeting was a game played in Hyde Road in Manchester in the former Division Two in September 1893, when James Stott scored the only goal in favour of the visitors.

 

Betting Tip

Our Premier League 2025 betting odds lean towards City. You can get odds on an away win ranging from 1X2 @ 3.26 or Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 2.23.

Pep Guardiola’s men, meanwhile, are available 1X2 @ 1.93 and Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.19.

An attractive payday awaits most of those, as does the 1X2 Draw, which will pay out @ 3.60.

Goal bets have caught my eye, most notably Total Goal 2-3 @ 2.20. There are others, such as Total Goal 0-1 @ 4.87, 4-6 @ 2.48, and Over 3.50 @ 2.25, whereas a repeat of their meeting last season is on offer @ 24.00 with Correct Score 0-2.

Although I think it will be close, I cannot see a repeat of that, especially with Haaland in such a rich vein of form.

   

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