Liverpool host Manchester City in a high-profile Premier League clash today, with both teams missing key players for the Anfield showdown.
The fixture, which has dominated England's top flight for the best part of a decade, is set to attract even more attention as this is Man City's first game since being found guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons.
City have appealed the verdict as they deny any wrongdoing, though it remains to be seen if a resolution will come before the end of the current campaign.
Liverpool's attacking options hit
As Liverpool go in search of a win to cut the gap on the league leaders to three points and prove their title credentials, head coach Andoni Iraola's attacking options have been hit.
The Spaniard confirmed in his pre-match press conference on Friday that Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo have failed to recover in time from the injuries sustained during the international break and will, therefore, miss out against Man City.
The attacking duo will join Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni on the sidelines, meaning Iraola is guaranteed to be without five senior players for the big match at Anfield.
Jeremy Jacquet, however, has shaken off a hamstring strain and is available for selection, and Federico Chiesa could make a matchday squad for the first time this season after recovering from a lower back injury.
City's fitness concerns
Enzo Maresca, meanwhile, has fewer fitness concerns to deal with as City prepare to deal with the hostile Anfield atmosphere.
Erling Haaland is "ready" to face Liverpool despite limping off during Norway's final Nations League fixture against Portugal last weekend, and Antoine Semenyo took part in training on Thursday after withdrawing from the Ghana squad for their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification double-header.
Nico O'Reilly is Man City's major doubt as he battles to recover from the issue that forced him to withdraw from the England squad at the beginning of the month.
As such, the one City player guaranteed to miss out against Liverpool is Phil Foden, as he serves the final match of a three-game suspension for his red card in last month's Manchester derby victory at Old Trafford.
