Key events
Pep Guardiola’s pre-match thoughts
It always helps [winning a trophy]. But when you finish one chapter you open another one, and we have a chance to reach a semi-final.
Liverpool have always been an extraordinary team. The players are there, they have a top-class manager. But the game we played against them here in the Premier League was really good. At Anfield it was tight and I’m sure this will be a tight game.
[On James Trafford’s inclusion] Since I started as a manager I have always played the second keeper in the cups. James has always performed pretty well.
[On watching the game from the stands] The view is much, much better. It’s better to be in the stands because [on the touchline] I’ll get another yellow card!
Jamie Jackson
Pep Guardiola will not stand in Rodri’s way if the midfielder wishes to leave Manchester City for Real Madrid, though the manager believes he will stay at the club beyond this summer.
During the international break Rodri, whose contract expires in June 2027, was asked about reports that Real’s president, Florentino Pérez, wished to sign him. When answering, the 29-year-old referenced how being a former Atlético Madrid player would be no obstacle.
“There are other players who’ve taken that path,” he said. “Not directly, but over time. For me, you can’t turn down the best clubs in the world.”
Reminded of his stance that no footballer would ever be prevented from leaving City should they wish to, Guardiola said this would apply to Rodri. “Absolutely. The organisation of the club is above all of us – if one player is not happy, they have to leave.”
The small print
No replays in the FA Cup quarter-finals. If it needs to go extra-time and penalties, then it needs to go extra-time and penalties.
Andy Hunter
Arne Slot has no regrets over his treatment of Mohamed Salah and claimed it was entirely the forward’s decision to leave Liverpool at the end of the season.
The Liverpool head coach declined to divulge why or when Salah decided to leave the club as he faced the media on Friday for the first time since the Egypt international’s announcement. Slot believes it should be left to Salah to explain the reasons for exiting 12 months before his contract is due to expire.
Team news
Pep Guardiola makes one change to his Carabao Cup-winning side. Marc Guehi, who was ineligible for the final against Arsenal, replaces Nathan Ake. That means James Trafford stays in goal.
Three changes for Liverpool, whose last match was a 2-1 Premier League defeat at Brighton. Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones and Mo Salah come in for Jeremie Frimpong, Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo. Alexander Isak is back in training but isn’t fit enough to make the matchday squad.
Man City (4-2-3-1) Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rodri, Bernardo Silva; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku; Haaland.
Subs: Donnarumma, Reijnders, Ake, Marmoush, Kovacic, Gonzalez, Ait-Nouri, Savinho, Foden.
Liverpool (possible 4-1-3-2) Mamardashvili; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch; Szoboszlai, Jones, Wirtz; Salah, Ekitike.
Subs: Woodman, Mac Allister, Chiesa, Gakpo, Robertson, Frimpong, Nyoni, Morrison, Ngumoha.
Referee Michael Oliver.
Andy Hunter
There were more important reasons for Jürgen Klopp’s return to Liverpool last Saturday, but it was apposite his presence reminded Anfield of the unshakable bond and belief they once shared, the joy his football brought. Those pillars of Klopp’s reign are weakening under Arne Slot and April may determine whether they are left standing at all.
Two cup quarter-finals in succession should signal a season on the right track for Liverpool; showpiece occasions such as Manchester City in the FA Cup on Saturday and Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday whetting the appetite for what May could have in store.
Preamble
It’s Manchester City v Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals, and you want a preamble?
Okay, okay. This is the tie of the round, followed by daylight, then twilight, then more daylight. The rivalry between City and Liverpool, which peaked during some extraordinary matches and unprecedented title races between 2018 and 2022, remains one of the most vivid in world football.
In one sense, the stakes are even higher now than they would have been in an FA Cup quarter-final a few years ago, because there’s a very good chance that, for the first time in years, neither of these clubs will win either the Premier League or the Champions League.
City have the Carabao Cup in their back pocket, having produced arguably their best performance of the season to beat Arsenal a fortnight ago, and are still scrapping in the league. Liverpool have a Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain to come in the week.
Even so, this competition is the best chance of a(nother) trophy for both Pep Guardiola and the under-pressure Arne Slot. Whichever team loses today will feel pretty empty – and not only because they’ve been beaten by one of their greatest rivals.
Kick off 12.45pm.