Liverpool football club would host Manchester City at the Afield stadium without two of the club’s regular players – Trent Alexander-Arnold and Thiago Alcantara.
The Premier League giants would also be without Harvey Elliott who is currently recovering from a surgery he had to treat a dislocated ankle.
As for Alexander-Arnold and Alcantara, coach Jurgen Klopp of Liverpool confirmed that the two players would be sidelined against Manchester City due to fitness issues.
The two players did not play in Liverpool’s UEFA Champions League 5-1 win over Porto on Tuesday. Alexander-Arnold is battling to recover from a “muscle issue” but he is likely to be back for the Premier League side after the October FIFA international break.
As for Alcantara who has been absent since September 18 after playing in Liverpool 3-0 win over Crystal Palace, is battling to recover from a calf injury.
Just like Alexander-Arnold, the Spanish midfielder is expected to be back to full fitness before Liverpool play a Premier League game against Watford on October 16.
Ahead of Liverpool vs Manchester City clash, coach Klopp confirmed that Alexander-Arnold and Alcantara are doing well but would not make it into the squad that would face Manchester City on Sunday, October 3, at 16:30.
Klopp said: “No news means they are doing well but they won’t have enough time for being back against City, but I expect them both to be back after the international break.
“But we have a good team so we still have solutions and we have to use them. After the international break, the boys will be back I think.”
If Liverpool manage to beat or draw with Manchester City on Sunday, they will remain the only club in the league that are yet to record a defeat this season.
Recall that on Tuesday, September 28, Jurgen Klopp and his boys beat Porto 5-1 in the Champions League. While Manchester City suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Paris Saint Germain in the same competition.
An emphatic European night ⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 30, 2021
Take a look back at all the goals from our latest #UCL outing! pic.twitter.com/Cgrmjyfdtd
Going by these results, Liverpool are expected to earn the maximum three points over Pep Guardiola’s men. If that happens, the Merseyside club would remain leaders of the league table with 17 points in 7 games.
While Manchester City are sitting on the second spot with 13 points in 6 games, a point behind Liverpool and on the same points with Chelsea, Manchester United, Everton, and Brighton.
Manchester City may visit Liverpool without Ilkay Gundogan and Oleksandr Zinchenko
Manchester City might visit Anfield stadium on Sunday without Ilkay Gundogan and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Gundogan is currently battling a thigh-related injury. The German midfielder is expected to be fit enough to play against Burnley on October 16.
As for Oleksandr Zinchenko, the 24-year-old Ukrainian football star has been battling fitness issues but there is a high chance that he might be available for the Liverpool vs Manchester City clash.
Aside from the two players and Benjamin Mendy who has been suspended due to his rape case, coach Pep Guardiola has no other major injury worries.
