Erling Haaland and Antoine Semenyo are both expected to start for Manchester City against Liverpool this weekend.
Enzo Maresca had concerns over the pair heading into Sunday’s Premier League clash at Anfield, but revealed in his pre-match press conference that Haaland is ready to play. The striker, who scored a stoppage-time winning penalty away at Liverpool last season, limped off during Norway’s final Nations League match, but has recovered from a minor knock to be available for selection.
Haaland fit for Anfield
“He's good. He went to Marbella, had two or three days off, played golf. Had some recovery. He's ready for Anfield,” Maresca told reporters. “He's good, the players are thinking: international teams, some days off and go again. He was good.”
While there was no update on Semenyo, he did train on Thursday, which suggests he is over the injury that forced him to withdraw from the Ghana squad for their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations double-header during the international break.
Selection dilemmas in attack and midfield
With Haaland and Semenyo likely to keep their places from the win over Sunderland on September 20, who joins them in attack is a dilemma facing Maresca as the fit-again Jeremy Doku is pushing for a start ahead of former Everton winger Iliman N’Diaye.
There’s also a big decision to be made in midfield. The boss could be brave and go with Rayan Cherki in the No10 role or bring in Ayyoub Bouaddi alongside Elliot Anderson and push Enzo Fernandez further up.
Team news and absentees
Phil Foden serves the final game of his three-match suspension after being sent off in the Manchester derby last month, and Nico O’Reilly is a doubt after pulling out of the England squad and not being spotted in the aforementioned training session.
Predicted Man City XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol; Fernandez, Anderson; Semenyo, Cherki, Doku; Haaland.
Doubts: Semenyo, O’Reilly. Suspended: Foden. Time and date: 4.30pm BST on Sunday, October 11, 2026. How to watch: Sky Sports. Venue: Anfield.
