Match Today: Liverpool vs Manchester City 22-12-2022 English League Cup

Manchester City and Liverpool will face off at the Etihad Stadium in a decent welcome after the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The two giants are tied in the League Cup round of 16, and face off for the second time this season, after Liverpool beat Manchester City 1-0 in their previous league meeting.

Manchester City came from beating Girona 2-0 in a friendly and back in contention, and they'll want to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat at Brentford before the World Cup break.

However, City achieved four wins in the previous four matches, and three of the last four matches ended with more than one goal.

Manchester City have had a clean sheet in their last four matches and despite losing to Brentford at home, have done well at the Etihad this season; In their 12 games there, they have a record 11 wins.

After the draw was made just over a month ago, Liverpool boss Klopp spoke about the type of team he could pick as the game continues straight after the World Cup.

Liverpool's victory over City in the league came immediately after its victory over the league champions in the Community Shield. Liverpool have not lost this encounter in recent encounters, and they go here unbeaten in five matches against City.

In each of their last three meetings with Manchester City, Liverpool have emerged winners and this is a run they will be sure to extend here. During the World Cup break, Liverpool played two friendlies and lost both of them - 3-1 to Lyon and 4-1 to AC Milan.

However, in competitive action, they are undefeated in four matches. Their last match in this competition had to go to a penalty shootout after the match against Derby County after a 0-0 draw.

Four of their last six matches ended with more than one goal, and in their last 11 matches they have five clean sheets. This is the first time that Man City has faced the League Cup holders since 2011-12, when they beat Birmingham City 2-0 in the third round.

The only time they faced Liverpool as champions was a 4-0 defeat in October 1995. Liverpool have kept seven clean sheets in their last eight League Cup matches, including their last four in a row.

Only once have they gone five times without a waiver in the contest, doing so between February and October 1984.

Jürgen Klopp's side will seek to defend their title and now face a difficult task after beating League One Derby County on penalties to qualify.

Man City have already overcome a challenge as they sent Chelsea into the third round thanks to goals from Riyad Mahrez and Julian Alvarez. Manchester City has 11 wins in 12 home matches. Liverpool have not lost against City in the past five encounters.

Manchester City has a clean sheet in four matches. Four of Liverpool's last six games have produced more than one goal.

Four of Manchester City's last five games have made it likely that Manchester City will have midfielders Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri and Ilkay Gundogan, all available after their early exit from the World Cup.

Erling Haaland should lead the line and he could be even more dangerous after a month out. Julian Alvarez is unlikely to feature after being involved in Argentina's victory over France in the World Cup final on Sunday.

Liverpool will be without Luis Diaz for another three months after he was forced to have an operation. However, several key players are expected to return to action in the match with only Ibrahima Konate still playing for Qatar.