Liverpool

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Liverpool and Manchester City.

Here are some of your comments:

Liverpool fans

Douglas: Liverpool's defence exposed again. The club will go nowhere until this is fixed. The defence showed how slow they are, both physically and mentally. What on earth was Alisson thinking?

Barry: Liverpool just cannot manage a game. After scoring, they dropped deep, inviting City on to them. There was a horrible inevitably about what happened. Then the Dominik Szoboszlai sending off to complete a dismal afternoon. Who will play right-back now on Wednesday? Probably Joe Gomez if he's fit. Calvin Ramsay must be wondering what he has to do to get a game.

Stuart: Let's not have an improvement in the second half cloud our judgement here. Liverpool are in need of a massive overhaul from right at the very top down to the squad. So many areas need urgent attention - the owners, the director of football and the manager and his coaching team, to the players, who are obviously no longer able to perform. This is going to take another two to three years minimum to fix.

Leo: Mohamed Salah has become the weakest link of this Liverpool team. Can't score, can't assist, can't get past defenders, can't defend. And teams are no better than their weakest links.

Man City fans

Brian: City now prove they have the stomach for a fight and the bottle to hang in there and believe. This was a huge win and an injection of confidence into all their fans. An away win at Liverpool is rare, but this was no ordinary win. This was a team playing as a team and with a will to win that will send shivers into the spines of Arsenal players. The blue moon is out there.

Harry: I shamefully admit I had lost all hope after Szoboszlai's absolutely incredible free-kick. Witnessing moments like that sometimes make the loss a bit easier and I never imagined we'd get back into the game. For a large portion we played far too tight, and Antoine Semenyo became restricted with a lack of wide play. We controlled the first half, but the second half was far more open and Liverpool have a right to feel aggrieved to get nothing from this game. Gianluigi Donnarumma was our saviour once again. So, so proud of our lads for showing some fight. Marc Guehi was monumental. CTID.

John: After a clear loss of belief by the City players in the past few league games, and the first half of Sunday's match, Bernardo Silva dragged his team-mates back to make them believe in themselves once again. In the end, it was heroics that got them through.

Tom: A great first half, then a few jitters crept in. Anfield is a difficult place to play. Liverpool generally pass so well, but they made a few mistakes and City's momentum kicked in. This was like the 2023 side - and once Bernardo equalised there was real belief. City can use this to go on a run. With Erling Haaland and the boys, anything is possible.

Former England captain Wayne Rooney says he understood the late VAR call in Manchester City's chaotic win at Liverpool on Sunday.

There was widespread confusion in the stadium and endless debate on social media following the decision to chalk off a Rayan Cherki goal and issue a red card to Liverpool's Dominik Szobozslai.

Former City goalkeeper Joe Hart agreed with Rooney, stating "rules are rules" after the officials applied the letter of the law to the action.

You can watch the analysis above from Match of the Day or a clip from The Wayne Rooney show below.

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Once Dominik Szoboszlai scored a goal worthy of winning many a football match, Liverpool should not have lost this game.

Arne Slot's side were poor in the first half, but looked a different force in the second period, with Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike all growing into the game.

Szoboszlai's strike left most of the ground in disbelief, with Ibrahima Konate holding his hands on his head.

But, yet again, Liverpool failed to see the game out.

Only this time, it went from bad to worse when Alisson made a poor decision to bring Matheus Nunes crashing down for the penalty.

Liverpool have now conceded four 90th-minute winners in league matches this season - the joint-most by a team in a Premier League campaign after Watford in 2017-18, West Ham in 2021-22, Watford again in 2021-22, and Southampton in 2024-25.

And with Szoboszlai dismissed - as he grabbed Erling Haaland's shirt to prevent the Norwegian striker making sure Rayan Cherki's shot went in - and banned for Wednesday's game against Sunderland, it remains to be seen who could fill in at right-back.

Pep Guardiola had spoken pre-match about the power of Anfield and how it was a stage that called for big personalities to make a difference.

Unfortunately for Liverpool, it was City who turned up in numbers on that front when it mattered most.

Slot's side are now four points behind fifth-placed Chelsea. There's still a long way to go, but it would be inexplicable if the current champions failed to qualify for next season's Champions League.

Liverpool could be about to re-sign 23-year-old England centre-back Jarell Quansah from Bayer Leverkusen next year. (Football Insider), external

Juventus, Napoli and Roma are all possible destinations for Federico Chiesa, with Liverpool open to allowing the forward to leave for about 25-30m euros (£21.7m-£26m). (Caught Offside), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Pundits Joe Hart and Wayne Rooney join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Brighton 0-1 Crystal Palace

• Liverpool 1-2 Man City

Liverpool boss Arne Slot, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "A lot has happened, which is normal in this fixture. For us we are disappointed to come away without a result

"In the first half, Manchester City were the better team without creating many big chances but they had the ball more in our half. The second half, we were on top and had good moments. We went 1-0 up and hardly gave anything away. Just before the end, one deflected cross falls good for them and It's 1-1. We tried to prevent and they won the first header. Good anticipation from Bernardo [Silva] and good finish.

"We are getting almost used to conceding a goal in extra time, it happened again today.

On Szoboszlai's red card: "That is not the incident we should talk about. Maybe he should have left it for a goal as it is, but if that is the rule that is what we have to accept.

"If there is any incident we should talk about, it's when Mo Salah is one on one with the goalkeeper. Anyone who has been to this stadium in the last seven or eight years, that is a goal for Salah. Once again, the referee decides not in our favour. They have to do their job."

Can you look at this game positively?: "Of course. Second half we pressed really high and played good football. You cannot compare this game with three or four months ago, we have improved so much - but we need to improve the results. So many times this year we haven't got what I think we deserve and this is another time."

Did you know?

• Liverpool have conceded four 90th-minute winners in league matches this season; already the joint-most by a team in a single Premier League campaign, after Watford in 2017-18, West Ham in 2021-22, Watford in 2021-22, and Southampton in 2024-25.

• Liverpool lost a Premier League game at Anfield in which they scored the opening goal for the first time since April 2017 (2-1 defeat v Crystal Palace). Between those two matches, the Reds were unbeaten in 109 home league games when scoring the opening goal (W98 D11).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Liverpool's performance

What did you make of Manchester City's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter

Liverpool boss Arne Slot names the same starting XI from the side that beat Newcastle 4-1 last time out.

It means the in-form Hugo Ekitike leads the line supported by Florian Wirtz, who is beginning to find his feet in a Reds shirt.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Szobozslai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Gakpo, Wirtz, Ekitike.

Subs: Chiesa, Endo, Jones, Mamardashvili, Ngumoha, Nyoni, Ramsay, Robertson, Woodman.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola makes five changes to the side that beat Newcastle in midweek to reach the Carabao Cup final.

There is a huge surprise with captain Bernardo Silva recovering from a hamstring injury to start the game and there are five changes in all.

Centre-back Marc Guehi could have been lining up in a home shirt but instead comes to Anfield for City, while 2024 Ballon d'Or winner Rodri starts in midfield.

Gianluigi Donnarumma returns in goal and the Erling Haaland is looking to end his Anfield hoodoo by starting up front.

James Trafford, Tijjani Reijnders, Phil Foden, Nathan Ake and Nico Gonzalez all drop to the bench.

Man City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, Ait-Nouri, Rodri, Silva, O'Reilly, Marmoush, Semenyo, Haaland.

Subs: Ake, Cherki, Foden, González, Lewis, Alleyne, Reijnders, Trafford, Dias

There are two games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Brighton v Crystal Palace (14:00) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Liverpool v Man City (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times GMT

Follow Brighton v Crystal Palace here

And go here for Liverpool v Man City

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Brighton v Crystal Palace" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Liverpool v Man City".

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against AI, BBC Sport readers and a variety of guests.

His guest for week 25 is Gladiators star Apollo, real name Alex Gray, who supports Newcastle.

Sutton says: It will be interesting to see if Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola starts with Omar Marmoush up front ahead of Erling Haaland after his two goals against Newcastle in midweek, but their attack looks strong anyway with Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo in the team.

The same applies to Liverpool, who have got a striker in form in Hugo Ekitike, while Florian Wirtz is playing with confidence too.

City will have moments where they will create chances, but Liverpool are going to have opportunities at the other end as well - there will be a few goals in this game.

Sutton's prediction: 2-2

Apollo's prediction: 2-3

AI's prediction: 2-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Manchester City could face a make-or-break day in their attempts to reel in Arsenal at the summit of the Premier League table, as they take on Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday (16:30 GMT).

Liverpool produced arguably their standout performance of the season in their last outing, sweeping aside Newcastle United 4-1. Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz were both sensational throughout.

While City have won only one of their past six Premier League games, they too can take some confidence from hammering the Magpies. On Wednesday, they won 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium in the second leg of the League Cup semi-final. You sense a trip to Anfield will represent an altogether different test, though.

Wirtz can make Anfield record worse for City

Even though City have been the dominant force in English football over the last decade, Liverpool and Anfield have always represented a major test for them.

Liverpool have lost just one of their last 22 Premier League home games against City, with that defeat coming at an empty stadium during lockdown in 2021. When a boisterous Anfield crowd has been in place, City have not responded well.

The Reds appear well-placed to capitalise on City's weaknesses again this weekend, despite their own issues this season.

Pep Guardiola's side have struggled to defend against teams in transition. Liverpool excel in that area, scoring seven goals in the league this season from fast breaks – more than any other side - while a division-high 24.14% of their high turnovers end in a shot. City will therefore need to be wary of losing the ball in dangerous positions. In Ekitike and Wirtz, Liverpool have the players to punish any slack play.

While Ekitike has regularly shown flashes of brilliance since his summer arrival, Wirtz's season has been a slow burner after a £116m transfer. Since scoring his first goal for Liverpool against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 27 December, he has come to the boil beautifully.

City title hopes could crumble on Merseyside

Whether City can keep pace with league leaders Arsenal feels open to debate. But a win at Anfield would surely strike fear into the Gunners in the remaining weeks of the season.

City have simply been unable to maintain their performance levels across a full 90 minutes throughout the campaign.

The 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday summed up their problems. After coasting into a two-goal lead in the first half, they were unable to adapt when Spurs applied pressure after the break.

Only struggling West Ham United have dropped more points from winning positions at the break than City's 11. If matches had ended at half-time this season, City would be 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

Erling Haaland's form also continues to be a concern for City, with just one goal from open play in his last 12 games in all competitions. He has failed to score in any of his three Premier League away matches at Liverpool, with Anfield and the Stadium of Light the only two grounds he has played at but not found the net.

Image source, Getty Images

James Milner has been described as the "consummate professional" on BBC Radio 5 Live's The Commentators' View podcast, as he closes in on Gareth Barry's record for most appearances in the Premier League.

If Milner features for Brighton against Crystal Palace on Sunday, he will reach 653, the same number Barry finished with when he retired in 2020.

Speaking on the podcast, BBC senior football reporter Ian Dennis said: "I did spend a lot of time with him when I covered the England under-21s. There was a tournament in Holland in 2007 and then I remember him in Sweden in 2009 and spoke a lot to him when he was an England international at various England camps. And the way he has conducted himself, he is the model pro, isn't he? He is the consummate professional."

BBC commentator Alistair Bruce-Ball added: "The other thing when we're talking about being the consummate professional, 40 years old, he gets on for a minute or two at the end of that game [last weekend] and annoyingly when he's on, Everton equalise.

"You've got to do all the running after the game because you've only played a couple of minutes of football, but when you're in your 24th season of Premier League football, and you're still prepared to do all of that, that says something in itself."

BBC football correspondent John Murray touched on how much Milner will have had to look after himself to sustain the longevity he has had, saying: "It can't be a coincidence that he's kept himself fit over the years, which I think attests to himself being a professional. He's clearly had to look after himself to be able to do that."

Listen to the full podcast here

Josh Sexton
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

A week in which your team scores 10 goals should have any fan absolutely purring about what's to come next, but Liverpool fans have been stung before this season.

A week of majorly positive wins against both Aston Villa and Real Madrid was swiftly followed by a complete collapse at Manchester City, and with the same opposition to come on Sunday, fans are right to feel a little apprehensive.

There are some things to be excited about, though, and much more so than at that point earlier in the season. Chief among the reasons for optimism is the growth of Liverpool's once-criticised summer signings.

Milos Kerkez has really come to the party, while we're starting to see exactly what Florian Wirtz can do when given the keys to be the offensive engine of a team. Jeremie Frimpong even looked lively before yet another injury setback.

Even though the wait goes on to see Alexander Isak get a real run of games in a Liverpool shirt, Hugo Ekitike has more than sated supporters with some sumptuous displays.

The striker did initially hit the ground running, and at one point was the only new signing with genuine credit in the bank in terms of contributions to his new team, but he suffered a slump after a mind-numbing sending off for a shirtless celebration against Southampton in the League Cup.

The most concerned critics could have seen that brainless moment and chose to judge the young Frenchman as a whole, but to believe this isn't a supremely intelligent footballer only shows naivety in the beholder.

He demonstrated this at the weekend against Newcastle United, with a now analysed-to-death stuttered run before a cheeky toe poke past the goalkeeper into the far corner. Simple moves on the surface, but impressive when done at pace with the quality of opposition defending them.

Part of Ekitike's charm is that he's making a lot of different elements of his game look so simple, right down to the old-school cliche of having "good feet for a big man", which just speaks to his elite talent with the confidence and swagger to match.

That confidence and swagger will be very important to his Liverpool side rediscovering their mental resilience over the coming months.

Find more from Josh Sexton on outlets including The Anfield Wrap, external

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Twenty-four years after making his debut, James Milner, 40, will equal the record for most Premier League appearances if he features for Brighton against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

A stellar career spanning more than two decades, six top-flight clubs, 652 Premier League appearances, 61 England caps, three Premier League titles, two FA Cups and one Champions League triumph has also delivered some unexpected moments.

Milner is set to go level with Gareth Barry, who played 653 times, at the top of the all-time Premier League appearance list some 8,491 days after making his debut for hometown club Leeds United soon after leaving school in 2002.

Milner was just 16 and earning £70 a week as a YTS player when he broke into the first team at Leeds, six months after taking his GCSE exams.

Milner signed for Newcastle in a deal worth £5m in 2005.

Alan Shearer, who played with Milner at Newcastle, describes him as a model professional and a "manager's dream".

"You would do well if you had him in your squad because you knew exactly what you were going to get," adds former England captain Shearer.

However, a year after signing, Milner was sent out on loan to Premier League rivals Aston Villa, with then Magpies boss Graeme Souness defending his decision at the time saying "you won't win the league with James Milners".

Milner had impressed on loan at Villa so much that in September 2006 they offered around £4m to sign him permanently but Newcastle pulled out of the deal at the 11th hour at the end of the transfer window and he would not get his permanent switch to Villa for another two years.

In 2020 he opted for the challenge of reviving Manchester City's fortunes and left five years later having helped them win two Premier League titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup and one Community Shield.

"We won the Premier League together in 2012 but there were times that season when things were not going well," recalls former City defender Micah Richards.

"He was one of the people who kept everyone going."

After 147 top-flight appearances for City, he was ready for his next challenge.

Next stop...Liverpool, where he won the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Uefa Super Cup, Fifa Club World Cup and the Community Shield.

After Liverpool came an offer from Brighton in 2023 to prolong his top-flight career, where he continues to compete in what is his 24th Premier League season.

Milner became the Premier League's second-oldest goalscorer earlier this season and celebrated by recreating Diogo Jota's celebration in tribute to his former Liverpool team-mate, who died in a car crash last July.

"I've not scored [in the Premier League] for six years and I was wearing his number. Obviously, I've got help from the great man," said an emotional Milner after the match.

Image source, Google

Milner still remembers a conversation with veteran Leeds goalkeeper Nigel Martyn soon after breaking into the first team 24 years ago.

"He told me, 'Enjoy it while you can because it goes so fast'. I said, 'Leave it out, Nige, I'm 16!'

"And here we are in the blink of an eye - and I'm where he was."

Read more on Milner as he nears the Premier League record

French football journalist Julien Laurens, speaking on the BBC's Euro Leagues podcast about Liverpool's new £60m signing Jeremy Jacquet:

"You don't spend that much money on a player when you don't believe in their potential.

"It shows you how quickly football can go - in a year, you go from playing for Clermont in the French second division to being bought for £60m by Liverpool. It's pretty remarkable.

"He's one of the best defenders in his age group, he's on the verge of the France team - maybe not for the World Cup because there's too much competition, but after that I'm sure they will have a look.

"From a Liverpool point of view, if you don't get him now, he would have gone to a massive club next anyway. They were right to get him now.

"He will need a bit of time to adapt and bulk up physically, but he's got all of the attributes. He's quick, reads the game so well, he's good on the ball, wins duels in the air and on the ground - it's looking so good for him. I just hope he goes well."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds and watch Arne Slot discuss new signing Jacquet in the video below:

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Last week, Arne Slot stressed that his Liverpool side could still do special things if they improved in both boxes. Since then, they have scored 10 goals and conceded once against Qarabag and Newcastle and the feeling around the football club has certainly improved, with Slot adamant that the football has been "really good".

The confirmation that centre-back Jeremy Jacquet will arrive in the summer from Rennes has added to the good mood but in the here and now, Liverpool have a defensive crisis with Slot confirming that Jeremie Frimpong won't be back for the game against Manchester City on Sunday. Joe Gomez also remains a doubt so Dominik Szoboszlai may start at right-back again.

Of course, Pep Guardiola's side are expected to offer a much tougher test than Qarabag or Newcastle did. "What a force City still are and always will be," Slot insisted. It was back at the Etihad Stadium in November when Liverpool were largely "outplayed" by City.

After Slot's comments this week on The Reds Roundtable, an in-house Liverpool production, where he stressed his desire to play "good football", all eyes will on Anfield on Sunday and whether Slot's side can entertain.

"As a manager, you can win the league, Champions League, the FA Cup or the League Cup but the biggest thing you can win is that you can play the nicest football to watch," Slot said.

"Although, at this moment in time, fans might argue a little bit. It is absolutely something that I am aiming for.

"Not all of our fans see it as a joy to watch and the hardest thing is I even understand, I agree with them.

"Trophies is one thing but being a team, club or a manager that stands for good football, is in the long-term worth more."