CONFIRMED: Liverpool vs. Man City team news as SHOCK goalkeeping call made

Arne Slot has made four changes to the starting XI that ran Real Madrid off the Anfield pitch on Wednesday night, but Pep Guardiola has also made some shocking decisions.

Liverpool have an opportunity to go 11 points clear of the four-time reigning Premier League winners, and that is reflected in the decisions made by both men.

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After blowing a 3-0 lead after the 75th minute against Feyenoord in the Champions League in midweek, this is starting to feel like a do-or-die game for City.

With that in mind, here's how the sides will line up.

Goalkeeper

Arne Slot sticks with the in-form Caoimhin Kelleher with his first-choice Alisson still being sidelined with a hamstring injury and lack of match fitness. Shifting Kelleher out would have been unfair given not only his level of performance over the past few months but his game-saving penalty save from Kylian Mbappe on Wednesday night.

It's here where Guardiola has had his first bit of head loss - starting backup Stefan Ortega over regular goalkeeper Ederson. The Brazilian made a calamitous error midweek, completely misjudging the flight of the ball as he raced out to try and prevent Feyenoord equalising, allowing the Dutch side to head the ball into an empty net.

His comedic diving header was seen all over social media and it seems like Pep couldn't let it go.

Defence

Trent Alexander-Arnold reemerges as the starting right back. It would have been interesting to see what Slot did after Conor Bradley's earth-shaking performance against Madrid, but the injury he sustained forced the Dutchman's hand.

Ibrahima Konate also suffered an injury just as the full-time whistle blew, meaning Joe Gomez gets his first league start all season. The veteran may be a necessary presence given Erling Haaland's legendary prowess, but should be confident of their ability to keep a clean sheet as he is partnered by Liverpool's ever-present captain, Virgil van Dijk.

Andy Robertson takes left-back as ever, with the ankle injury Kostas Tsimikas suffered in training this week making the decision foregone.

Man City send out Kyle Walker, despite being completely outmatched by even Timo Werner against Tottenham last week, as well as their expected Manuel Akanji being partnered by the returning Ruben Dias.

Nathan Ake, meanwhile, replaces Josko Gvardiol at left-back after the Croatian's torrid time midweek.

Midfield

It'll take divine intervention to move Ryan Gravenberch from defensive midfield, given he is the best in the world at that position right now, and Alexis Mac Allister has proven that he is the difference between good and great Liverpool performances.

The Argentinian was seismic against Madrid, winning player of the match to go along with his goal.

Dominik Szoboszlai comes back in, replacing Curtis Jones after the Hungarian's best performance of the season against Southampton last week.

Slot clearly thinks Szoboszlai's ability to make space down the right will pay dividends.

City are having to put out their unwanted Rico Lewis-Ilkay Gundogan double pivot in Rodri's place, whilst Matheus Nunes, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden will look to unlock Liverpool's league-leading defence.

Attack

This is where Slot has made a big - if completely understandable - decision.

Liverpool will start with a leading line of Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz and Mo Salah.

Salah's inclusion is like death or taxes, but the dropping of Darwin Nunez for Diaz through the middle stems from how dynamic the trio looked in the last 20 minutes against Madrid midweek.

Gakpo's place is retained in the league but it was his goalscoring second half cameo that has forced Slot's hand into including him. His physicality and pace will match well with Kyle Walker, whilst Diaz will hopefully be able to drag City's big centre backs out of position.

City themselves go with Erling Haaland up top, unsurprisingly. He should have bagged a couple of goals against Tottenham last week, with goalkeeper Vicario having an inspired performance, and Liverpool need to treat him with the respect he deserves.

Liverpool (4-2-1-3): Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Salah, Diaz, Gakpo

Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Ortega, Walker, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Lewis, Gundogan, Nunes, Silva, Foden, Haaland

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