Less than two weeks after lifting the EFL Cup, Manchester City return to the Etihad Stadium to face Liverpool in Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final clash.
This encounter comes nearly two months after their dramatic Premier League meeting at Anfield, where City came from behind late on to secure a 2-1 victory, with goals from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland sealing the turnaround Manchester City vs Liverpool.
Match Preview
City’s campaign had looked to be slipping away after they fell nine points behind league leaders Arsenal and suffered Champions League elimination at the hands of Real Madrid. However, they bounced back in style by claiming EFL Cup glory at Wembley.
A brace of second-half headers from emerging talent Nico O’Reilly guided City to an impressive 2-0 win over Arsenal, ensuring Pep Guardiola avoids consecutive seasons without silverware. The triumph also marked the 40th major trophy of Guardiola’s managerial career, a milestone he could reach before potentially ending his long spell at the Etihad this summer.
Manchester City vs Liverpool – Complete Rivalry Guide (2026 Update)
While challenging Premier League fixtures against Chelsea and Arsenal are approaching, City’s immediate priority is their FA Cup showdown with Liverpool as they aim to reach the semi-finals for an eighth straight season.
City’s FA Cup record has been outstanding, winning 19 of their last 21 Manchester City vs Liverpool in the competition over the past four seasons, including a 3-1 victory against Newcastle in the previous round. Their only losses during this run came in the 2024 and 2025 finals against Manchester United and Crystal Palace…Read more
At home, City have been dominant, winning their last 17 FA Cup Manchester City vs Liverpoolat the Etihad since their defeat to Middlesbrough in January 2015. A win over Liverpool would see them surpass Clapham Rovers’ historic record for consecutive home victories in the competition.
For Liverpool, this match will be their first since Mohamed Salah confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the season after an iconic nine-year spell. The Egyptian forward, who missed the recent loss to Brighton due to injury, has been advised by Steven Gerrard not to exit the club under negative circumstances following earlier tensions with manager Arne Slot.
With at least 10 matches remaining across three competitions, Liverpool are targeting a top-five league finish while also aiming for strong runs in both the FA Cup and Champions League, which could influence Slot’s future at the club.
Before their upcoming Champions League clash with PSG, Liverpool will test themselves against a City side that has already beaten them twice in the league this season. Another defeat would make City only the second team, after Crystal Palace, to beat Liverpool three times in one campaign.
Although Liverpool suffered a 3-0 defeat in their last visit to the Etihad, they can draw confidence from their strong FA Cup away record against City, having won their last four such meetings.
The Reds secured a 3-1 victory over Wolves in the previous round, and a win here would take them to the FA Cup semi-finals for only the second time in 11 years, and their first since lifting the trophy in 2022 under Jurgen Klopp.
Team News
City will still be without Josko Gvardiol due to a tibial fracture, while John Stones and Ruben Dias face late fitness checks. Marc Guehi is expected to return to the starting lineup in defence, while James Trafford is likely to start in goal Manchester City vs Liverpool.
Nico O’Reilly could either continue at left-back or move into midfield, depending on Guardiola’s selection, possibly linking up with Bernardo Silva and Rodri. Erling Haaland, who has a strong scoring record against Liverpool, is set to lead the attack.
Manchester City vs Liverpool, meanwhile, remain without several players including Alisson Becker, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, and Wataru Endo due to injuries. Jeremie Frimpong is also a doubt after picking up a knock on international duty.
Alexander Isak may return to the squad after recovering from a long-term injury, while Mohamed Salah is back and aiming to continue his FA Cup scoring run. Dominik Szoboszlai could fill in at right-back if needed, allowing Florian Wirtz to play in a more advanced midfield role Manchester City vs Liverpool…Read more
