The Reds Retrospective

Sunday, February 8th, 2026 – Anfield

Liverpool look to continue on winning ways following a 4-1 victory over Newcastle at the weekend as familiar foes Manchester City travel to Anfield on Sunday. Manchester City seem as formidable as ever, with an impressive mid week thrashing of a strong Newcastle side in the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final that saw them through to a date with Arsenal at Wembley Stadium.

Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz has just secured the Premier League’s January Player of the Month award after an impressive start to the new year. The Reds will hope that his continued improvement will help to awaken an attacking style of play that the team has lacked for much of this season.

LIVERPOOL RECENT FORM
D vs Burnley 1-1
W at Marseille 3-0
L at Bournemouth 2-3
W vs Qarabağ 6-0
W vs Newcastle 4-1

MANCHESTER CITY RECENT FORM
L at Bodø/Glimt 1-3
W vs Wolves 2-0
W vs Galatasaray 2-0
D at Tottenham 2-2
W at Newcastle 3-1

I believe that we will see an unchanged Liverpool side from last weekends victory over Newcastle fielded by Arne Slot. It is worth mentioning that when asked about Curtis Jones who was rumored to be linked to Inter Milan over the last few days of the transfer window but remained, here is what Slot had to say at his presser on Thursday:

“He’s played a lot of minutes, not all of them, but I think he’s also unlucky in the sense it’s probably the only line where we haven’t had injuries. Still, he’s played a lot of minutes, so that’s why, of course, we kept him as well because we have in that line a lot of players but we need these midfielders in different positions as well.”

It could be possible that Jones be played at right back allowing Dominik Szoboszlai to return to his natural midfield position at the expense of Alexis Mac Allister, but based on Slot’s comments and previous precedent, I don’t see that change happening.

LIVERPOOL PREDICTED 11 (4-2-3-1)
Alisson, Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo, Ekitike. 

MATCH PREDICTION
Manchester City have been strong this season, and Liverpool have seen their strength first hand this season in a 3-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium in matchweek 11. However, Manchester City’s recent form does show that they are not invincible. A draw against a struggling Tottenham and a shock defeat against Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League illustrate that they have not been as strong as they would like to be away from the Etihad.

It’s the business end of the campaign, and for Arne Slot, it seems more and more as if it’s do or die if he wants to remain as Liverpool’s manager next season. Liverpool need to go on a serious run of results, and I am going to play the optimist. The Reds are going to show up for the big occasion against a familiar opponent at Anfield and win by a score of 2-1. Both goals to be scored by Hugo Ekitike, as he gets his second brace in as many games.