Manchester City vs Liverpool FA Cup Quarter-Final Preview
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Man City vs Liverpool Prediction: FA Cup Betting Tips and Odds
Follow our football betting tips as Manchester City and Liverpool meet in the FA Cup quarter-finals this Saturday lunchtime at the Etihad Stadium. The match, scheduled for 12:45 and broadcast on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max, is widely regarded as the tie of the round.
These two football giants have a combined total of 14 FA Cup titles, with Liverpool leading the historical tally with eight wins compared to Manchester City's six. However, Pep Guardiola's side has been the more recent force in the competition, reaching the last three finals. They triumphed over Manchester United in 2023, suffered a loss to the same opponents in 2024, and were defeated by Crystal Palace in May 2025.
In the current FA Cup betting markets, Manchester City are second favourites to lift the trophy at Wembley in May, with odds of 3/1, trailing behind Arsenal. Liverpool, seeking their first FA Cup win since 2022, are priced at 13/2. With Liverpool facing Paris St-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals next week, this FA Cup clash could represent their most realistic chance for silverware this season. Conversely, Manchester City would relish securing a cup double after their recent League Cup victory.
Betting Preview: Champions League Distraction Could Benefit City
This encounter marks the third meeting between the sides this season, with Manchester City having won both previous matches. They secured a 3-0 home victory in November, with goals from Erling Haaland, Nico Gonzalez, and Jeremy Doku, followed by a controversial 2-1 win at Anfield. In that match, Liverpool led through Dominik Szoboszlai before Bernardo Silva equalised late. City then snatched a winner in added time via an Erling Haaland penalty after Matheus Nunes was fouled by Alisson. Szoboszlai was later sent off in a chaotic finish.
That league double over Liverpool was City's first since the 1935/36 season, raising the question: can they make it three consecutive wins? City are 4/5 on betting apps to qualify for the semi-finals, while Liverpool are 16/5. Home form may be crucial, though Liverpool won at the Etihad last season en route to the Premier League title and have a cup victory there from 2003, courtesy of a Danny Murphy penalty.
The teams last met in the FA Cup during the April 2022 semi-finals, where Liverpool prevailed 3-2. Ibrahima Konate opened the scoring, Sadio Mane added a brace, and despite late goals from Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva, Liverpool held on and eventually beat Chelsea in the final.
Manchester City enter this match with only two wins in their last six games across all competitions, both in this tournament against Newcastle United and Arsenal in the League Cup final. Liverpool have lost three of their last six, with wins limited to an FA Cup match against Wolves and a Champions League tie with Galatasaray. Given this form and Liverpool's potential distraction with the upcoming PSG clash, City appear favoured.
Man City vs Liverpool Prediction 1: City to Win After Extra Time
Odds: 9/1 at Bet365
The battle of star strikers will be pivotal. Erling Haaland has scored three goals in his last six appearances against Liverpool, including two this season. He is priced at 4/5 to score anytime, despite a relatively quiet 2026 with just five goals. In contrast, Mohamed Salah, who has announced his departure from Liverpool at season's end, boasts an impressive record against City with 13 goals in 25 appearances, including three in his last six. He has two FA Cup goals this season and is 7/2 to score on Saturday.
Man City vs Liverpool Prediction 2: Salah to Score
Odds: 7/2 at BetVictor
Team News for Man City vs Liverpool
Manchester City: Marc Guehi returns after being cup-tied for the League Cup final, but John Stones may miss out with a calf injury. Josko Gvardiol is sidelined with a broken leg, and Ruben Dias is a doubt due to a hamstring issue.
Liverpool: Jeremie Frimpong is doubtful after an injury in a Netherlands friendly, joining Alisson and Federico Chiesa as concerns. Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, Wataru Endo, Stefan Bajcetic, and Jayden Danns are already ruled out.
Free Bets and Responsible Gambling
For this FA Cup weekend, bettors can claim up to £50 in free bets from Betfred by wagering £10 at odds of evens or greater. The offer includes 3x £10 tokens for any sport and 2x £10 accumulator free bets, valid for seven days.
It is vital to gamble responsibly. Always set a budget, avoid chasing losses, and use tools like deposit limits and time-outs. If you experience issues, seek help from organisations such as the NHS, GamCare, or Gamblers Anonymous. All odds and offers are subject to change, and terms and conditions apply.
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