Manchester City have been on top of the Premier League standings for the past 16 weeks. They ascended to the top of the points standings in the first week of December 2021. Since then, Liverpool and Chelsea have attempted but failed to dethrone the league leader. Chelsea are already out of the title race, behind Manchester City by 14 points with eight games remaining. On the other hand, Liverpool are only one point behind the Citizens. Therefore, Manchester City vs Liverpool 2022 Premier League encounter on Sunday at Etihad Stadium might decide the season's winner.
Premier League 2021/2022 Season: The Points Standings Scenario
Reigning Champion Manchester City's season got off to a poor start. They won three, lost one, and drew one in their first five games. On the other hand, the Citizens steadily regained their momentum and took over the top spot in the points table in December. They haven't dropped to second place since claiming the top spot. Manchester City now have 73 points after 30 matches, while Liverpool have 72 points after the same number of games. If Liverpool win, they will overtake Manchester City as the top team in the Premier League. Oppositely, Manchester City will take a four-point lead over Liverpool if they win the match.
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The top four teams in the standings will qualify for the Champions League the following season. Therefore, the race for the top four spots is heating up. Third-placed Chelsea have a five-point lead over fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur. As a result, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea are the favorites to finish first, second, and third in the Premier League 2021-2022 season points standings.
Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, West Ham United, and Manchester United are all battling for fourth place. Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal both have 54 points, while West Ham and Manchester United both have 51. As a result, the remaining eight/nine-week games will be critical. Meanwhile, Everton, Burnley, Watford, and Norwich City are all fighting to stay in the Premier League. The bottom three teams in the points standings will be relegated to the EFL Championship.
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Manchester City vs Liverpool 2022 Premier League Lineups
Portuguese defender for Manchester City, Ruben Dias is currently rehabilitating from a thigh injury. He, along with young midfielder Cole Palmer, will miss the match due to injury. Aside from them, the remainder of the players will be eligible for selection.
Predicted Playing XI (Manchester City):
Ederson Moraes (GK), Kyle Walker (RB), John Stones (CB), Aymeric Laporte (CB), Joao Cancelo (LB), Bernardo Silva (CM), Rodri (CM), Kevin De Bruyne (CM), Riyad Mahrez (RW), Phil Foden (CF), Raheem Sterling (LW)
Liverpool have no serious injury concerns, as all of the squad's players are available for selection in this crucial match. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Naby Keita's fitness were questioned due to injuries. However, according to the latest reports, they are both fit to play against Manchester City. It may be difficult for Jurgen Klopp to pick his ideal starting XI for the match. The match will start at 9.30 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time) on Sunday at the Etihad stadium.
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Predicted Playing XI (Liverpool):
Alisson Becker (GK), Trent Alexander-Arnold (RB), Joel Matip (CB), Virgil van Dijk (CB), Andrew Robertson (LB), Jordan Henderson (CM), Fabinho (CM), Thiago Alcantara (CM), Mohamed Salah (RW), Sadio Mane (CF), Luis Diaz (LW)
Match Prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool
Liverpool vs Manchester City: Head-to-Head
Manchester City and Liverpool FC have met 169 times in major competitions. Liverpool have a 78-45 advantage in the head-to-head match. They have played each other in the Premier League for the majority of their encounters. Liverpool have a 75-45 advantage over Manchester City in the Premier League head-to-head clash. 519 goals have been scored between these two teams, with Liverpool scoring 288 goals and Man City scoring 231 goals.
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Verdict
Manchester City and Liverpool are arguably the best two football teams in Europe right now. Therefore, Sunday's Manchester City vs Liverpool 2022 Premier League encounter promises to be exhilarating. Furthermore, the outcome of the match may alter the championship race scenario. Both sides will make every attempt to win the game, and neither can afford to lose. As a result, both Manchester City and Liverpool may adopt a defensive approach during the contest.