Liverpool don’t get many weekends like this. One big game, one clear focus, and a chance to build real momentum instead of constantly patching holes. After the 4–1 statement against Newcastle and the 6–0 Champions League demolition of Qarabag, Arne Slot finally has a bit of breathing space — and he looks ready to use it by keeping things simple.
All signs point to Slot naming an unchanged XI when Manchester City arrive at Anfield on Sunday, February 8, 2026 (4:30pm GMT).
That’s not “lazy” management. It’s a clear message: Liverpool have found a shape that works in their current reality, and this week is about trust, rhythm, and roles — not experiments.
The context: Liverpool need points, City need character
Liverpool’s league season has been messy. Before Newcastle, the Reds had stumbled through a run of draws and defeats, and the table reflects it: sixth place, chasing a Champions League spot rather than leading the pack.
City, meanwhile, still look like contenders, but even Pep Guardiola is talking more about mentality than talent right now — because their form has been uneven and their margins have tightened.
So this doesn’t feel like a classic “title decider.” It feels like a collision of two giants with different pressures:
- Liverpool trying to turn a season back into something meaningful.
- City trying to prove they can still dominate the big moments when the mood gets tense.
Team news: Liverpool’s injury list keeps dictating the story
Slot’s selection hand is forced in a few areas. Liverpool remain without a cluster of players, especially in defence, and right-back is still the headline problem.
Most previews agree Liverpool are dealing with a heavy list of absentees — including Conor Bradley (season-ending knee injury) and Giovanni Leoni (long-term knee/ACL issue), while Jeremie Frimpong is still out following the groin injury picked up against Qarabag.
Joe Gomez is the big “wait and see” name. Some reports suggest he could be back in contention, others still list him as out — which usually means it comes down to the final training response.
Slot’s own frustration has been clear: Liverpool can cope, but only if the injury situation doesn’t worsen further.
Why an unchanged XI makes sense
The strongest argument for keeping the Newcastle lineup is simple: it worked — and it worked in the exact areas City will try to stress.
Slot’s current setup has found a pragmatic balance:
- Enough control in midfield to stop games becoming chaotic.
- Enough pace and threat up front to hurt teams quickly.
- Enough discipline in the back line to survive without specialist depth.
And crucially, it protects the right side — the area Liverpool can’t afford to lose again.
Predicted Liverpool XI
Most predictions are lining up behind a 4-2-3-1, with Dominik Szoboszlai continuing at right-back and Milos Kerkez at left-back.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1):
Alisson; Szoboszlai, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
Slot does have alternatives. Andy Robertson’s experience is always tempting in a game like this, and Wataru Endo is another emergency option on the right. But when a team finally clicks, managers rarely break it apart unless they have to.
The key battle: Liverpool’s “new” right-back vs City’s left-side threat
If you’re looking for the pressure point, it’s obvious: Szoboszlai defending wide areas against City’s rotations.
As a midfielder, Szoboszlai brings energy and aggression — but City will try to isolate him and force him into repeated defensive decisions: when to step out, when to hold shape, when to track the runner inside. The danger isn’t one moment. It’s the fourth and fifth time, when fatigue and hesitation creep in.
That’s where Liverpool’s structure matters. If Gravenberch and Mac Allister cover the spaces properly, Szoboszlai doesn’t have to “win” every duel. He just has to delay, channel, and survive — and then Liverpool can counter.
Wirtz, Ekitike, Salah: Liverpool’s path to hurting City
This is where the game gets fun — because Liverpool’s front four suddenly looks sharp.
- Florian Wirtz as the No.10 gives Liverpool a connector who can receive between the lines and release runners early — exactly the kind of player who turns one turnover into a clear chance.
- Hugo Ekitike offers the opposite profile to a false nine: he’s physical, direct, and gives Liverpool a focal point who can pin centre-backs and bring others into play.
- Mohamed Salah needs no explanation — and games like this are where his timing and calm can flip the entire mood inside Anfield.
If Liverpool score first, this becomes a different kind of match: not a technical chess game, but an emotional, chaotic fight — and City have already been warned by their manager that big games are decided by mentality.
The headline
Liverpool may be battered by injuries, but the Newcastle win gave them something they’ve lacked: belief with a plan. Keeping the same XI isn’t cautious — it’s Slot backing the group that earned the right to take on City.
Now comes the hard part: doing it again, with Anfield roaring, against a side that still knows how to punish tiny mistakes.
If Liverpool want a top-four finish that feels like a rescue rather than a scrape, nights like this are non-negotiable. And if Slot’s unchanged lineup lands another punch, this season’s story changes fast.
