Man City vs Liverpool: FA Cup Quarterfinal, Team News, Kickoff Time, Lineups & Where to watch

Manchester City host Liverpool in a high stakes FA Cup quarterfinal at the Etihad Stadium. Both teams enter the match with different pressures and objectives as the season reaches a critical stage.

Match details

Fixture: Manchester City vs Liverpool

Competition: FA Cup quarterfinal

Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester

Date: Saturday, April 4

Kickoff: 12:45pm Nigeria time

Liverpool chasing final chance at silverware

Liverpool head into this tie with limited room for error. The team sits fifth in the Premier League. That position leaves the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League as the only realistic routes to a trophy this season.

Manager Arne Slot faces growing pressure. He delivered a 20th league title less than a year ago. Now he needs another trophy to secure his position after a difficult second campaign.

The next 10 days will define Liverpool’s season. After this trip to Manchester, they face Paris Saint-Germain in a two leg Champions League quarterfinal on April 8 and April 14.

Salah set for emotional exit

Mohamed Salah confirmed during the international break that he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season. He has scored 255 goals for the club.

Slot praised his consistency and mindset.

“Hopefully, he can make his legacy even more special in the upcoming weeks and months.”

“That hunger never drops.”

“When you take him out, he still wants to score one more.”

Salah had a difficult spell late in 2025 and missed four straight games. Since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, he has regained his place and influence in the squad.

Liverpool showed their attacking strength with a 4-0 win over Galatasaray in the Champions League. That result secured a 4-1 aggregate victory. However, they followed it with a 2-1 league defeat to Brighton.

Slot wants consistency.

“I hope and expect we can be the team that we were against Galatasaray.”

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Manchester City eye another trophy run

Manchester City remain active on multiple fronts. They recently beat Arsenal 2-0 to win the League Cup before the international break.

The club is still chasing a historic treble repeat. They achieved it once in the 2018 to 2019 season.

However, manager Pep Guardiola will not be on the touchline for this match. He is suspended after receiving his sixth booking of the season during the FA Cup win over Newcastle.

The booking came after protests over a challenge on Jeremy Doku. Guardiola reacted strongly when no foul was given.

There is also uncertainty around his future at the club. This match could be one of his final meetings with Liverpool.

Head to head record

Manchester City and Liverpool have faced each other 220 times.

Liverpool wins: 110

Manchester City wins: 62

Draws: 58

Their last meeting ended in a 2-1 win for City. Erling Haaland scored a stoppage time penalty to seal the result.

Other FA Cup quarterfinal fixtures

Chelsea vs Port Vale

Southampton vs Arsenal

West Ham vs Leeds

These matches complete the lineup for the quarterfinal stage.

Man City team news

City have defensive concerns.

Josko Gvardiol is out with a tibial fracture

Ruben Dias faces a late fitness test

John Stones also faces a late fitness check

Marc Guehi returns and is available after missing the League Cup final.

James Trafford is expected to start in goal as part of rotation.

Predicted XI

Trafford
Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, Ait-Nouri
Bernardo, Rodri, O’Reilly
Semenyo, Haaland, Cherki

Liverpool team news

Liverpool also have key fitness issues.

Mohamed Salah missed the Brighton loss but is expected back

Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, and Wataru Endo are out

Alisson Becker is unlikely to start

Jeremie Frimpong faces a late assessment

Dominik Szoboszlai could fill in at right back

Alexander Isak has returned to training after an ankle injury. He is not expected to feature in this match.

Predicted XI

Mamardashvili
Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez
Mac Allister, Gravenberch
Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo
Ekitike

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What to expect

This match brings high intensity.

City aim to stay on track for multiple trophies

Liverpool need a win to keep their season alive

Salah wants a strong finish before departure

Slot needs results to ease pressure

Control in midfield and defensive discipline will decide the outcome.

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Prediction

Manchester City have more stability and depth. Liverpool have urgency and attacking threat.

Expect a close match. City hold a slight edge due to squad balance and home advantage.