19 hours Ago
This weekend’s electrifying showdown at the Etihad between Manchester City and Liverpool just got spicier. Pep Guardiola’s troops are still reeling from last night’s Champions League knockout exit at the hands of a Kylian Mbappé-inspired Real Madrid. On the same evening, Liverpool toiled their way to a 2-2 draw versus Aston Villa and could find themselves only five points ahead of second-place Arsenal in the league standings come Sunday afternoon.
Advertisement So, what can we expect from this tantalizing clash? Let’s peek at the key betting markets, from possible outcomes to scoring, and a look at the big-picture wagers. Two scenarios and two betting paths The tipsters predict a tense, tactical showdown between two of the league’s titans. Despite playing at home, Man City are underdogs at 9/5, while Liverpool lead the odds at 27/20.
The Reds aren’t runaway favourites, but the bookmakers have reasons to back them. This season, the Sky Blues’ struggles go beyond their inconsistent form – they’ve been vulnerable defensively. Pep Guardiola’s side have managed just six clean sheets to Liverpool’s 10, tying Nottingham Forest for the most this season.
The Reds are priced at 4/1 to keep their opponent scoreless, while City’s odds are steeper at 9/2. Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, with 2,021 passes and 2,311 touches this season, anchors a much steadier backline compared to City’s injury-hit defense. Centre-back Rúben Dias has been in and out with abductor issues, while Nathan Aké is finally back after spending most of the winter on the sidelines.
However, after leaving Wednesday’s Champions League game with an apparent knee injury, mainstay John Stones will be out for the foreseeable future – leaving another hole in a once solid and coherent wall. Offensively, Arne Slot’s side leads the league with 60 goals ahead of City’s 52. Their attacking proficiency could make a goalless draw highly unlikely, meaning bettors could see this match playing out in two ways.
The most likely correct score is 1-1 at 8/1, suggesting a balanced, hard-fought contest where both teams score, but neither dominates. Despite Liverpool being slight favourites, the odds of a draw (29/10) aren’t far from a City win – possibly due to City’s potential use of a mid-block and the tendency for top ties to end in deadlocks. The above may be a safer betting pick, but we’re expecting goals.
With 4/9 odds on over 2.5 goals, the bookmakers expect fireworks. A matchup featuring two Golden Boot winners hungry to make an impact does not feel nor sound like it should end in a subdued, low-scoring affair.
Best goalscorer odds: Haaland or Salah? Guardiola says the knee injury Haaland picked up against Newcastle last Saturday was “nothing serious,” yet, it was serious enough to bench the Norwegian during the mid-week thumping over Madrid. Will he be fit enough for this weekend’s showdown? Incidentally, when it comes to the Golden Boot odds, City’s talisman isn’t too far behind Salah, the clear frontrunner at 4/9, with 23 goals. Haaland (6/4) trails with 19.
Advertisement Salah has been sparkling this season, recording 13 assists alongside a prolific goals tally. His expected goals (xG) tally stands out at 19.38, with a stellar 0.
92 goals-per-game ratio. The Pharaoh of Anfield isn’t just a goal machine – he’s a playmaker, too. Even slightly under the weather, Haaland remains a force to be reckoned with.
The Norwegian has two assists, an xG of 18.39, and a near identical goals-per-game ratio of 0.90.
The first goalscorer market gives the forward the edge at 9/2, with Salah close behind at 5/1. Haaland’s sharp positioning, hunger and home advantage make him a strong bet to break the deadlock. However, his counterpart’s knack for stealing the spotlight means he’s not out of the equation.
If picking an opener feels too risky, backing both as anytime goalscorers provides a safer route (Haaland leads the pack at 13/10, with Salah at 7/5). Looking to bet on the underdog? Given the importance of this clash, it might pay to go against the grain. Darwin Núnez (12/5), Luis Dìaz (14/5), and Omar Marmoush (5/2) offer intriguing anytime value.
For more stories like this click here to follow The Athletic’s sports betting section and have them added to your feed. A Liverpool draw or defeat could shift title race This fixture carries substantial weight in the title race. Liverpool currently lead the table with 61 points and are favoured to lift the trophy at 4/1 odds.
A victory against City would solidify their position ahead of runners-up Arsenal. Conversely, City, with title odds at a measly 40/1, see this match as a must-win scenario to keep their top-four aspirations alive, especially with teams like Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth in close contention. Looking ahead, City face a challenging run with Tottenham, Forest and Brighton, while Liverpool take on Newcastle, Southampton and Everton.
Sunday’s result will be crucial for both teams, but carries greater weight for City, who are fighting to secure a Champions League spot next season. (Photo of Mohamed Salah: Getty Images / Carl Recine).
