The Premier League is set to witness a thrilling encounter this Sunday as Manchester City locks horns with Liverpool in their first meeting of the 2024/25 season. The match holds significant importance for both teams, and recent developments from the Liverpool camp have added an interesting twist to the narrative.
Pep Guardiola’s side has been grappling with numerous injury problems throughout the current campaign. A notable instance was September’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal at Etihad Stadium, where Rodri suffered a season-ending injury. These setbacks have undoubtedly posed challenges for Manchester City squad ahead of their crucial clash against Liverpool. In contrast, Liverpool has received some positive news on the injury front. Arne Slot, who took over from Jurgen Klopp as manager in summer 2024, confirmed that his team has been handed a significant boost ahead of Sunday’s showdown.
During his latest press conference, when asked about Trent Alexander-Arnold's fitness status following his recent absence due to an injury, Slot confirmed that Alexander-Arnold is fit enough to start against Manchester City.
Arne Slot, Liverpool manager, said:
“Trent is fit enough to start, yes.”
Why Alexander-Arnold could be a game-changer
Alexander-Arnold was forced off during the first half of Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa earlier this month due to a hamstring issue. This led him to miss England’s two Nations League matches against Greece and Ireland and also kept him out of action during Liverpool's recent Premier League match against Southampton.
Despite these setbacks and only starting in 11 Premier League games this season so far - providing just one assist - Alexander-Arnold still holds impressive stats under his belt. He boasts the second-highest total number of key passes (19) within the squad and has won more tackles (24) than any other player at the Merseyside club in the league.
These statistics underscore Alexander-Arnold's potential to be a significant threat for Manchester City, both defensively and offensively. His return to fitness is indeed a major boost for Liverpool.
Etihad Stadium atmosphere
Despite Sunday’s game being held at Anfield, Trent Alexander-Arnold has previously praised the atmosphere of Etihad Stadium during past encounters between City and Liverpool. Given the high stakes of this upcoming match, it can be safely assumed that whether he starts or not, the England international will likely witness another electrifying atmosphere when these two Premier League giants meet on Sunday.
With Manchester City facing injury challenges and Liverpool welcoming back a key player from injury, this weekend's clash promises to be an exciting spectacle for sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts alike.
