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The Premier League season resumes this lunchtime at the Etihad Stadium with a fixture which has in recent years been the highlight of the campaign. Reigning champions City welcome usual the Reds to the Etihad Stadium, but the latter’s usual title hopes are long over as they instead bid for an unlikely fourth-placed finish.
The big talking point heading into the game is the fitness of Erling Haaland, who picked up a knock during the international break and is now not expected to feature today. It is a huge blow for City, who will also be without Phil Foden, as they look to keep the pressure on title favourites Arsenal.
Liverpool will be able to welcome back Darwin Nunez from his own fitness concerns as they begin a season-defining final 12 games of a season which has largely been well below expectations. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog below!
Live updates
60min: Oh, it’s actually a dreadful dive from Gakpo.
59min: Oh wow, surely that’s a penalty! Ake appears to have tripped Gakpo inside the area.
City go straight up the other end and Grealish forces a fine save out of Alisson.
56min: Gakpo’s deflected shot spins inches past the far post but that won’t quieten the home crowd. The Etihad is rocking.
GOAL!
54min: The Liverpool defending is non-existent!
Alvarez jinks inside the area and sees his shot blocked and then Gundogan has all the time in the world to prod home from eight yards.
50min: Gakpo brings the ball down inside the area and thumps it straight at Alisson, but he’s a yard off and again the flag is late.
GOAL!
46min: What a start to the second half! De Bruyne after 52 seconds!
Alvarez feeds Mahrez down the left, who spins a superb cross from De Bruyne to tuck home in the penalty area.
Klopp’s face on the touchline is a picture.
46min: …and we’re back underway.
Delay to the restart as the referee’s headset isn’t working.
Teams are back out. We’ll be back underway shortly.
A thrilling first half an hour or so of football – Salah and Alvarez with the goals – before the crunching tackles and moaning to the referee began.
A big 45 to come.
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