The pundits have been having their say about today’s massive Premier League match between Manchester City and Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium
12:30, 09 Nov 2025Updated 16:03, 09 Nov 2025
Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer is sitting on the fence when it comes to today’s big Premier League match between Manchester City and Liverpool (Image: Getty Images)
Another dreaded international break is nearly in sight but what a final Premier League fixture to sign off with. It’s Manchester City versus Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium today (4.30pm kick-off) and it’s a vitally important match.
City boss Pep Guardiola may have wondered just when runaway leaders Arsenal were going to concede a goal let alone lose during the embargoed section of his pre-Liverpool press conference on Friday.
But after 10 straight wins in all competitions, during which time they conceded just one goal, the Gunners’ slipped up at surprise package Sunderland on Saturday night as they were forced to settle for a dramatic 2-2 draw.
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Brian Brobbey’s injury-time equaliser for the high-flying Black Cats means both City and the Reds have the chance to cut the gap to Mikel Arteta’s men this afternoon.
Victory for the hosts and they would move up to second and within four points of Arsenal. While if Liverpool can make it a magnificent with a third straight success, they would climb to second themselves and reduce the deficit to the pacesetters to five points.
Big game, then. But what are the pundits saying? Here, we take a look.
Alan Shearer
The former Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United and England striker told Betfair: “These two have set the pace for so long. It’s been an amazing rivalry and will be a fabulous occasion and a great game.
“Both teams will be desperate to win and Arsenal will be desperate for a draw to keep both at bay. I think it’ll be a score draw.
“Liverpool like to play a high line which will suit (Erling) Haaland, but they had so much more protection in midweek against Real Madrid and more of it last weekend.
“They have to carry that on which will be tough with Man City in decent form and Haaland looks unplayable at the moment.
“There are interesting battles all over the pitch. (Virgil) Van Dijk and Konate v Haaland is one I’m really looking forward too.”
Prediction: Draw
Paul Merson
Writing for Sportskeeda, the two-time title winner with Arsenal said: “Manchester City are on a roll at the Etihad, where they have won five games on the trot. Liverpool, meanwhile, have had four losses in their last five matches away from home. If you look at form, there’s only one winner here and that’s City but I’m not going to look at it that way.
Virgil van Dijk will be up against Erling Haaland and I think he will win that battle against the City striker. If you look at individual center-backs, Van Dijk is the Rolls-Royce and I believe he can handle Haaland. If Conor Bradley had Vinicius Jr in his back pocket, he won’t be worried about facing Jeremy Doku or Savinho either.
“Liverpool will also have too much for City to handle when they go forward. I don’t think City are great defensively, even in that win over Bournemouth, they were far from convincing at the back. Don’t get me wrong, City are bang in form but not just the team they were three or four years ago.
“If Liverpool lose this game, they are out of the title race. So basically, this is their biggest game of the season.
“Liverpool have found some confidence now. Arne Slot has also gone back to his best full-back pairing and midfield combination. When you have Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai as your three in midfield against City, you have got to be the favourites.”
Prediction: Manchester City 1-3 Liverpool
Chris Sutton
The former striker, who won the title alongside Shearer for Blackburn, wrote in his BBC Sport column: “Did Liverpool turn a corner with their great win over Real Madrid in midweek? Maybe, but this will show us where they are really at.
“I feel like a lot of the time these two teams have cancelled each other out when they have met in recent years, but this time it feels like a game they both have to try to win – and it is City I am backing to come out on top.
“Whoever wins this, I feel like both teams are fighting for second place anyway, because I don’t see anyone catching Arsenal now.
“People sometimes get angry when I say things like that but I do think they will win the title from here and I have changed my prediction from before the season started, when I went for Liverpool.
“I don’t often do that so early, but I don’t think Liverpool can win it any more – we’ve already seen in the first 10 games how, defensively, they are too vulnerable, and then you look at how good Arsenal are at the back.
“It is a similar story with City. I feel they will need Rodri at his very best to push the Gunners, but his injury problems don’t appear to be over.”
Prediction: Manchester City 2 Liverpool 1
Alan Smith
The ex-England international, who two titles at Arsenal alongside Merson, told BestBettingSites.co.uk: “It wasn’t just a win (over Real Madrid), it was fairly comfortable, wasn’t it? Madrid hardly created a chance, which is some going. So I think defensively, Van Dijk and Co will be pleased about that because they’ve been leaky up until now.
“They’ll want to kick on. If they end up losing to City, they’re not back to square one, but they’re taking one step forward and two steps back. Arne Slot will be looking at that and hoping that now they can become themselves a little bit more.
“If City were to win 3-0 then you’re looking at Liverpool thinking, have you got it in you this year? So, possibly. It could be a very tight game, 1-0, 2-1, whatever, and then you can’t really draw any form conclusions. But if one of them has a comprehensive win, then you start to draw conclusions a bit more.
I think it’ll be a good one. With Liverpool feeling a bit more confident, I think it might be 2-2.
Prediction: Manchester City 2 Liverpool 2
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Harry Redknapp
The former Tottenham Hotspur boss told football betting site BetVictor: “The big one, and I’ll be honest, I don’t have a clue what’s going to happen! It’s two sides that have been inconsistent, Liverpool especially, but the two who look the most likely challengers to Arsenal.
“City are becoming a bit of a one-man team, Haaland is just in amazing form. You’ve always got a chance when you have a striker this good and this confident.
“I thought Liverpool were excellent against Real Madrid and to be perfectly honest, the scoreline flattered Real. That should give the team a lift, but most of their problems have been on the road and we still haven’t seen how they’ll get on in these big away games.
“I’m going to go with City, just. City are always to hard to beat at the Etihad and Liverpool have struggled in away games over the last month.
Prediction: Manchester City 2 Liverpool 1