Liverpool’s clash with Manchester City is the first of a tough three-game run of fixtures in the Premier League, so we simulated the game to see how Klopp’s side could fare.
Liverpool will be looking to pick up their first win in eight years at the Etihad Stadium when the Reds face Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday.
After a week of international duty, Liverpool plays their first game in 16 days on Saturday when they face title-chasers Man City. The Reds entered the international break on the back of two tough defeats, one against Bournemouth in the Premier League, the other at the hands of Real Madrid as Jürgen Klopp’s side was knocked out of the competition.
Currently in sixth and seven points behind Tottenham in fourth, Liverpool needs to start finding wins consistently, but they have a tough run of games ahead. In the next eight days, the Reds face City, Arsenal and Chelsea, but with no other competition to focus on, Klopp’s side may have a slight advantage.
So, how could Liverpool perform against City on Saturday? Let’s take a look.
We simulated Man City vs Liverpool to get a score prediction
To complete this simulation, we used FIFA 23 and updated the squads with the latest injuries and suspensions.
Liverpool to get a score prediction
To complete this simulation, we used FIFA 23 and updated the squads with the latest injuries and suspensions.
We predict that City could set up in a 4-3-3 formation, with their line-up as follows: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Aké; Rodri, De Bruyne, Gundogan; Mahrez, Álvarez, Grealish.
We predict that Jurgen Klopp’s side could line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with their line-up as follows: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson; Jota, Gakpo, Núñez; Salah.
After bringing down Salah on his way to goal, Ruben Dias was sent off after just 14 minutes to hand Liverpool a huge advantage. But, despite being a man ahead, the Reds were poor at the Etihad, and after 70 minutes City found themselves 4-0 ahead.
Jack Grealish scored either side of half-time to put City 2-0 up, with both goals coming from close range after some questionable defending from the Reds. Not long after, Kevin De Bruyne punished some more bad defending from Liverpool when he eased into the box and fired into the corner, making it 3-0.
And 67 minutes in, City grabbed a fourth, this time Julian Álvarez getting on the scoresheet as the Argentine tapped home Riyad Mahrez’s cross from close range. It was becoming a battering, but the Reds improved in the final stages of the game, even managing to pull a goal back.
City lost the ball to Trent Alexander-Arnold deep in the Liverpool half, and the defender exposed City’s high line with a long ball forward for Mohamed Salah to chase. The Egyptian latched onto the pass before breezing in front of Kyle Walker, and he managed to curl his shot past Ederson to make it 4-1.
Substitute Roberto Firmino came close to grabbing a second for Liverpool three minutes after Salah’s strike, but the Brazilian failed to find the target with a header from close range. All of a sudden, the Reds found themselves in control, and Darwin Nunez got on the scoresheet to make it 4-2 in the 87th minute.
Nunez made it 4-2 (Image: EA SPORTS)
A switch of play from Alexander-Arnold saw Andrew Robertson lift a pass over the top of the City defense, allowing Nunez to break through on goal. After bringing down Robertson’s through ball, the Uruguayan powered his effort across goal and into the corner to make it 4-2, but that was all the Reds could conjure late on as they fell to a heavy defeat.
FIFA 23 predicted final score: Man City 4-2 Liverpool
Here are the full-time stats:
FIFA 23 predicts Liverpool could struggle against an in-form Man City side, losing 4-2 in the simulation. Despite an impressive end to the game, a dismal 70 minutes allowed City to wheel away from the Reds and claim the three points.
