Man City v Liverpool tips
Manchester City to Win
Erling Haaland to Score First
Kevin De Bruyne to Assist Anytime
Both Teams to Score
*A Bet Builder with these bets pays at approximately 19/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
- Not sure what we’re on about? Read our Bet Builder Guide Here.
Thursday 8pm: Manchester City v Liverpool
TV: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football
Manchester City to Win
Manchester City and Liverpool will probably be quietly thankful that only one player from each of their squads made it past the World Cup quarter-finals given the fixture list that awaits both sides in the coming weeks. Dethroned last year, City will seek to regain their status as perennial winners of the League Cup, while Liverpool will look for a second win over their rivals this season on Thursday night.
Although it is undoubtedly a big game, you get the impression that City and Liverpool will place far more emphasis on the league fixtures that come after Christmas as City attempt to play catch-up with Arsenal and Liverpool attempt to get back into the race for the Champions League places.
It wouldn’t be too surprising, therefore, if the five Liverpool players and 10 City players that exited the World Cup at the quarter-final stage did not feature on Thursday night to give them more time to recover for the festive fixtures.
Thursday’s game then comes down to a battle of squad depth and it is one that City win just about and that could mirror the result. They should have just about enough to gain some revenge for October’s defeat in Anfield.
Erling Haaland to Score First
Erling Haaland should be raring to go after six weeks without Premier League football. The Norwegian striker set the Premier League alight in his opening three months as a City player, but he has very much taken a back seat in the debate for best player in the world in recent weeks, watching on as Kylian Mbappe took the World Cup by storm.
Haaland will have a point to prove on Thursday night and it wouldn’t be surprising if he picked up where he left off before the World Cup break.
He has scored a staggering 23 goals in 18 appearances for City this season and there is no reason to believe that he will slow down when the season resumes.
Haaland was strangely anonymous during City’s defeat at Anfield earlier in the season and has a chance to make amends on Thursday. We’ll take Erling Haaland to Score First.
NEW TO PADDY POWER NEWS?
Kevin De Bruyne Anytime Assist
Kevin De Bruyne is another City player with a point to prove following his meek group stage exit with Belgium. De Bruyne registered nine assists in 13 league games prior to the World Cup break and has had almost three weeks to recover since his World Cup exit, so he should feature on Thursday night.
De Bruyne averages 3.1 key passes per game in all competitions this season, even averaging 2.7 key passes per game during his hugely disappointing World Cup campaign. He has already assisted Haaland on several occasions this season and De Bruyne is the most likely player to grab an Anytime Assist against Liverpool.
Both teams to Score
Liverpool endured a terrible start to the season that saw them slip 15 points off Arsenal in first after just 14 games, but they have remained fairly ruthless in front of goal. Jurgen Klopp’s side have scored 28 goals in 14 games at a rate of exactly two per game and have only failed to score in two league games all season.
It is at the other end where Liverpool have had the real problems and it is hard to see them keeping out such a ruthless City outfit.
City have scored a whopping 40 goals in their 14 league games to date but have had a few blemishes themselves at the other end, conceding 14 goals, with nine of those coming at home.
Liverpool’s last trip to the Etihad ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw and there is a good chance that Thursday’s game will be equally entertaining. We’ll finish off with Both Teams to Score.
Man City v Liverpool Bet Builder tips
Manchester City to Win
Erling Haaland to Score First
Kevin De Bruyne to Assist Anytime
Both Teams to Score
*A Bet Builder with these bets pays at approximately 19/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
FRIDAY FOOTBALL TIPS
- Our in-form tipster landed a 9/1 Scottish footy winner this week – here’s his Ross County v Rangers Bet Builder tips
- Here’s our value-packed 25/1 Footy Acca Tips from across three countries