Liverpool vs Manchester City Preview: Iraola’s Unbeaten Reds Host Maresca’s Leaders

The Premier League returns from its extended international break with one of the most anticipated fixtures of the autumn: Liverpool against Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday 11 October. The match kicks off at 16:30 UK time, which is 23:30 in Malaysia, and will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports, as confirmed in the Premier League’s broadcast selections for October.

It is the first meeting between the two clubs since Andoni Iraola moved into the Anfield dugout and Enzo Maresca took over at City this summer. Both managers have made strong starts, and the game offers the first genuine test of how their teams compare.

Key facts ahead of kick-off

• Fixture: Liverpool v Manchester City, Premier League Matchweek 6.
• Date and time: Sunday 11 October 2026, 16:30 UK time (23:30 Malaysia time).
• Venue: Anfield, Liverpool.
• UK broadcaster: Sky Sports.
• Form: City have won all five league games; Liverpool are unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions.

How the two sides arrive

Manchester City lead the table with a perfect record of five wins from five. Their final game before the break was a chaotic 5-3 win over Sunderland at the Etihad, in which Antoine Semenyo scored twice and Erling Haaland sealed the result late on. City’s own preview notes that they are aiming for a sixth successive top-flight win when they arrive on Merseyside.

Liverpool’s last game was a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Bournemouth, secured by Alexander Isak’s second-half goal. That result, according to City’s preview, extended Liverpool’s unbeaten run to seven games across all competitions at the start of the season. In the league they have nine points from five matches, having won twice and drawn three times, which leaves them six points behind City before kick-off.

Recent history favours City

The recent head-to-head record makes grim reading for Liverpool supporters. City won all three meetings between the clubs last season. They won 3-0 in the league at the Etihad, came from behind with a late turnaround at Anfield in February, and then hammered Liverpool 4-0 in the FA Cup quarter-finals in April, when Haaland scored a hat-trick and Semenyo added the fourth.

That record adds an edge to this meeting. Iraola, now in charge of Liverpool, will know that ending that run would send a powerful message. Maresca, meanwhile, has the opportunity to show that City’s strong start can survive one of the most demanding away trips in English football.

The managers

Iraola arrived at Liverpool in the summer after taking Bournemouth to their record sixth-place finish last season. City’s preview describes his high-octane, energetic style of football, which captured attention during his time on the south coast. A former right-back, he made 510 appearances for Athletic Club between 2003 and 2015, and his coaching career included spells at AEK Larnaca, Mirandes and Rayo Vallecano before Bournemouth.

Maresca has made a perfect start at City. His side have scored freely but also conceded in several games, as the 5-3 win over Sunderland showed. The City manager is scheduled to hold his pre-match press conference at the City Football Academy on Friday 9 October, according to the club.

Iraola is also part of a notable trend. City’s preview points out that he is one of a wave of Basque managers currently working in the English top flight, alongside Mikel Arteta, Unai Emery and Xabi Alonso.

There is a personal dimension for Iraola, too. He faced City several times as Bournemouth manager, and now returns to the fixture with a squad built to compete for trophies rather than survival. The tactical battle between his pressing approach and Maresca’s possession-based style will be one of the most interesting aspects of the afternoon, and it may offer an early indication of how both coaches intend to approach the biggest matches this season.

Key questions for the match

The first question is whether Liverpool can start well. Iraola admitted after the Bournemouth game that his team had not been at the required level in the first 20 minutes. Against City, a slow start could be punished, given how quickly Maresca’s attack can score.

The second concerns City’s defence. Conceding three goals at home to Sunderland raised questions about how well City cope with pace and direct running. Liverpool’s attackers, including Isak, Cody Gakpo and Florian Wirtz, will look to exploit any gaps.

The third is about goalkeeping and fine margins. Alisson was outstanding at Bournemouth, making several important saves. In a match between two strong attacking teams, the goalkeepers may again have a decisive role.

• Can Liverpool avoid a slow start against City’s fast-scoring attack?
• Will City’s defence hold up better than it did against Sunderland?
• Can Isak continue his scoring form after four goals this season?
• Does Haaland extend his record of scoring against every Premier League opponent he has faced?

The wider context

The fixture comes in a demanding stretch for both clubs. City host Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain at the Etihad on Wednesday 14 October, three days after the trip to Anfield. Liverpool also have European commitments to consider, with LASK listed as their next Champions League opponent in NBC Sports’ fixture rundown.

In the league, the outcome will shape the early title race. Arsenal, the defending champions, lost 3-0 at Brighton in their final game before the break and sit three points behind City. A City win at Anfield would strengthen their position at the top; a Liverpool victory would bring them within three points of the leaders and suggest that Iraola’s team is ready to challenge.

Where to watch in Malaysia

For Malaysian viewers, the 23:30 local kick-off on a Sunday night makes this a late but accessible fixture. Supporters of both clubs are among the most passionate in the country, and this is one of the matches of the season that draws crowds to viewing venues and living rooms across Malaysia. Fans should check their local broadcaster’s schedule for coverage details closer to the time.

Whatever the result, the match offers an early measure of two new managers and two squads with genuine ambitions. After more than three weeks without Premier League football, it is an ideal fixture to restart the season, and it will be fascinating to see how both teams respond to the challenge.