The most high-profile showdown in the opening week of the return of English football following the 2022 FIFA World Cup comes at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday when Liverpool’s defense of their Carabao Cup title takes them to a cup tie with Premier League holders Manchester City.
“Our mindset is that we want to win it again,” said Caoimhin Kelleher, the goalkeeper who was part of the Liverpool side to edge past third-tier Derby County on penalties in the previous round, adding that the Reds “can’t wait” for their Round of 16 games following a training camp in warmer surroundings.
“We had a good time out in Dubai so we’re well prepared and all raring to go.,” he said. “We know it’s going to be a tough game against City but we are the holders and we want to show we’re the holders for a reason.”
Here’s how to watch the game, team news and more as the teams meet again in a competition in which they have played each other to epic effect in past encounters.
What time is Man City vs. Liverpool?
This Round of 16 Carabao Cup match will kick off at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday, December 22 at 20:00 GMT.
Here’s how that time translates across some of the major territories:
| Kickoff time | |
| USA | 15:00 ET |
| Canada | 15:00 ET |
| UK | 20:00 GMT |
| Australia | 07:00 AEDT* |
| India | 01:30 IST* |
| Hong Kong | 04:00 HKT* |
| Malaysia | 04:00 MYT* |
| Singapore | 04:00 SGT* |
| New Zealand | 09:00 NZDT* |
How to watch Man City vs. Liverpool
Here’s how to watch all of the action from this match in some of the major territories:
| TV channel | Streaming | |
|---|---|---|
| USA | — | ESPN+ |
| Canada | — | DAZN |
| UK | Sky Sports Football | Sky Go, NOW TV |
| Australia | beIN Sports 1 | beIN Sports Connect, Kayo Sports |
| New Zealand | Sky Sport 7 | beIN Sports Connect |
| India | — | — |
| Hong Kong | — | Sports Plus 1, 661 Cable Sports |
| Malaysia | — | — |
| Singapore | — | — |
Man City vs. Liverpool predicted lineups
Man City head coach Pep Guardiola has complained that his side “just don’t have players” for the game “because the big brains of football decided this schedule.”
There is uncertainty, then, over City’s side, with striker Julian Alvarez definitely among those out following his part in Argentina’s World Cup final triumph on Sunday.
Man City predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): Ortega (GK) – Lewis, Akanji, Laporte, Gomez – Rodri, Gundogan – Mahrez, De Bruyne, Palmer – Haaland
Kelleher has usually been Liverpool’s cup goalkeeper and the understudy’s start in Liverpool’s game against AC Milan during their training trip should prove useful preparation when he deputises for Alisson Becker again.
Head coach Jurgen Klopp has said that defender Virgil van Dijk, who helped the Netherlands reach the quarterfinals in Qatar, will not play – but added that his other World Cup stars could be in contention.
Liverpool predicted lineup (4-3-3): Kelleher (GK) – Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Gomez, Robertson – Bajcetic, Thiago, Elliott – Oxlade-Chamberlain, Salah, Firmino
Man City vs. Liverpool betting odds
Despite Guardiola’s concerns over player availability, the hosts are odds-on to see off the side they beat to the Premier League title on the final day of last season.
The city has won this trophy in six of the last nine seasons, including each of the four seasons before Liverpool edged out Chelsea on penalties in the most recent final in February. They beat Liverpool 3-1 in a shootout in 2015-16 final following a 1-1 draw, avenging a 3-2 aggregate defeat in the semifinals in 2012.
| UK (Sky Bet) |
USA (Caesars) |
Canada (Sports Interaction) |
Australia (Ladbrokes) | |
| Man City win | 19/20 | -111 | 1.88 | 1.91 |
| Draw | 11/4 | +250 | 3.56 | 3.70 |
| Liverpool win | 13/5 | +280 | 3.51 | 3.50 |
| Over 2.5 goals | 8/15 | -165 | 1.57 | 1.57 |
| Both teams to score | 1/2 | -170 | 1.49 | 1.50 |
