Premier League team news and prediction: Man City vs Liverpool

Manchester City and Liverpool are currently separated by five points in the Premier League but the home side still have a game in hand after their late start to the season.

Neither City nor the defending Premier League champions have been at their best domestically so far this season but both are expected to challenge for the title come the end of the campaign.

A win would Liverpool would be a big psychological blow for Pep Guardiola's side, while a City triumph would give the home side a chance to overtake their rivals if they win their catch-up game.

Ahead of such a massive game in the Premier League, we have all your need-to-know match information in one place. We have you covered for team news, probable XIs and simply where and when to catch the game.

When is kick off?
Sunday 8th November, 16:30 GMT
Where is the match?
Etihad, Manchester
Where can I watch it?
Sky Sports Premier League / Sky Sports Main Event

Season So Far

Manchester City have only lost one game so far this season but it was a humilating 5-2 defeat at home to Leicester in gameweek two of the Premier League. They have a 100 per cent record in their Champions League group after three matches and are still in the Carabao Cup. Yet there are still doubts whether City are on the slide under Pep Guardiola. They have won their last three games heading into Sunday's match and not conceded a goal in that time.

After a difficult start to the season, Liverpool are sitting pretty in the Premier League and also have a 100 per cent record in their Champions League group. They have recovered well from Carabao Cup exit to Arsenal and a shock 7-2 loss to Aston Villa and have won thier last five in a row since losing Virgil van Dijk to a serious knee injury. They thrashed Serie A side Atalanta 5-0 away from home in midweek to boost their confidence further.

Team News

Gabriel Jesus returned off the bench in the Champions League in midweek, even grabbing a goal, after a nine-game absence through injury. Manchester City also hoped Sergio Aguero would return from injury in time for this match but he won't be available until after the international break. With Jesus set to return to the starting XI to face Liverpool, it means one of Ferran Torres or Riyad Mahrez will drop to the bench. As Torres has scored in three of his last four, it looks likely it will be Mahrez, who didn't start either league game against Liverpool last season. Meanwhile at the back, Nathan Ake or Joao Cancelo will start at left-back, with Aymeric Laporte and Ruben Dias holding things down at centre-back. Phil Foden and Ilkay Gundogan battle for a place in midfield.

Jurgen Klopp has a big decision on his hands for Sunday after Diogo Jota's stunning hat-trick against Atalanta in midweek. There have been calls for Jota to take Roberto Firmino's place in the team but Klopp has staunchly defended the Brazilian's importance to the side. It suggests both Jota and Firmino will start for Liverpool and with Thiago ruled out once again, Klopp may go with a 4-2-3-1 formation at the Etihad. Joel Matip wasn't risked in midweek but is set to return after a five-game absence and partner Joe Gomez at centre-back this weekend.

Probable XIs:

Man City (433): Ederson; Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gudogan; Torres, Jesus, Sterling

Liverpool (4231): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Gomez, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane; Jota

Key Battle: Ferran Torres vs Diogo Jota

Both summer signings were brought in with a view towards the long-term but they have already made their presence felt. Ferran Torres hasn't made the headlines to the same degree as Diogo Jota, but he has scored in three of his last four appearances for City and has really done well in the absence of a recognisied striker for Pep Guardiola's side.

Jota, meanwhile, couldn't have wished for a better start to life at Liverpool, though needs to work on his celebrations for once fans return. The Portugal international has impressively scored seven goals in eight appearances across league and European competition for Liverpool, despite only starting half of those games. His hat-trick in midweek was breathtaking and has put real pressure on Roberto Firmino to up his game.

Prediction: Man City 1-2 Liverpool