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Manchester City vs Liverpool FA Cup Preview: Odds, Tips & Prediction

Date: Saturday, April 4 Venue: Etihad Stadium Kick-off: 12:45pm GMT Manchester City and Liverpool will open the FA Cup quarter-final stage at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, April 4, and it promises to be a thrilling clash. In recent times, this fixture has been pivotal in the context of the Premier League title race. But now, the FA Cup will take centre stage. Therefore, reputable footballing betting operators will be eager to deluge punters with a plethora of markets and competitive prices to gorge on. Having lifted the EFL Cup with a comfortable 2-0 win over Arsenal in the final last month, City will be planning another trip to Wembley to try and complete a domestic cup double. Liverpool, meanwhile, have seen their domestic campaign nosedive this term, However, they are still involved in the Champions League, and they are one of the FA Cup’s most successful sides with eight wins to their name.

published: 24-03-2026

Last updated: 24-03-2026

Charles Perrin
Charles Perrin
Sports Betting Writer
Chad Nagel
Sports Betting & Casino Editor

6 minutes read

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Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates scoring the winning goal

Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates scoring the winning goal / Getty Images

How will this clash pan out? Our in-depth Manchester City vs Liverpool preview plugs all the angles, dissecting odds and stats to give you the full lowdown.

Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability: Manchester City Favourites

Punters should expect to find matchwinner odds available at reliable FA Cup bookies. This section has revealed the latest prices ahead of Manchester City vs Liverpool.

  1. Home: 4/5 (1.80) – 55.6%

  2. Draw: 3/1 (4.00) – 25%

  3. Away: 14/5 (3.80) – 26.3%

    *Odds courtesy of 247Bet, subject to change.

Head-to-Head Record

The head-to-head record can offer fascinating glimpses into matchups. For Manchester City vs Liverpool, we’ve noted how past clashes between these two sides have unfolded.

Previous FA Cup Meetings

  1. 16/04/22: Manchester City 2-3 Liverpool

  2. 05/01/03: Manchester City 0-1 Liverpool

  3. 18/02/01: Liverpool 4-2 Manchester City

  4. 13/03/88: Manchester City 0-4 Liverpool

  5. 07/02/73: Manchester City 2-0 Liverpool

Manchester City Current Form – WLDLW

Although Manchester City’s form has been mixed lately, having bagged the EFL Cup, things are looking eminently brighter.

Against Arsenal at Wembley, City monopolised possession, and they amassed more than 200 passes than their opponents. Pep Guardiola’s side seems to rise to the big occasions, and he became the first manager to win the League Cup on five occasions.

As far as the FA Cup is concerned, a 3-1 win away to Newcastle in the previous round underlined their class, and a high press against a Liverpool side that looks defensively vulnerable could yield rewards.

Key Players to Watch

  • Nico O’Reilly
    A player who has grown in stature this term, Nico O’Reilly is calm and composed on the ball, and he has been effective in front of goal, scoring four times in his past six appearances in all competitions.
  • Jeremy Doku
    Energetic and full of pace, Jeremy Doku teases defenders with his ball control and bag of tricks, but he’s improved his end product this term. He could give Liverpool a torrid time.
  • Antoine Semenyo
    A revelation since joining City in the January transfer window, Antoine Semenyo is strong and physical, and he knows where the back of the net is. He got on the scoresheet in the 10-1 win over Exeter City in the third round, and he could get a few chances come his way against Liverpool.

Manchester City Team News

Although the games have been piling up for City, they aren’t short on bodies, and the only player unavailable for selection is Josko Gvardiol (shin). 

Liverpool Current Form – WLDLW

Marred by inconsistency, Liverpool arguably will be relieved when the season is over. Although they are still going strong in the Champions League, their form has wavered in the Premier League.

Arne Slot’s side, when in a full flow, still cause problems, and fringe players, such as Andy Robertson have impressed with his marauding runs down the left and linking up the play well.

In their previous FA Cup game against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Liverpool were more assertive, and they need to dictate the tempo against City by disrupting their passing rhythm if they are going to make progress in the competition.

Key Players to Watch

  • Curtis Jones
    Exciting with the ball at his feet, Curtis Jones has come to the fore in the FA Cup, and he has scored in each round of the competition this term, so he’s a threat.
  • Mohamed Salah
    Despite his problems earlier in the campaign, Mohamed Salah is an iconic figure at Liverpool, and he can win games almost single-handedly. He’s also netted twice in his previous four appearances against City.
  • Dominik Szoboszlai
    Celebrated for his versatility, Dominik Szoboszlai offers a lot going forward, and he’s a very adept free-kick taker, so he could have a key role to play.

Liverpool Team News

Liverpool have quite a few long-term absentees out of action, but Slot should be able to field a strong side to take on City.

Predicted Line-Ups

  1. Manchester City (4-2-3-1)

    Trafford; Nunes, Stones, Khusanov, Ake, O’Reilly, Rodri, Silva, Doku, Semenyo; Haaland

  2. Liverpool (4-2-3-1)

    Becker, Szoboszlai, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Jones, Salah, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Gakpo; Ekitike

Suggested Bets

For big games, such as Manchester City and Liverpool, popular FA Cup betting operators will be stocked with many lines, and we’ve underlined a few worth considering before this clash, and these have influenced our matchday predictions.

  1. Over 2.5 Goals: This fixture has been laden with goals, and the two league clashes this term saw six netted. The Over 2.5 goals section appears inviting. (1/2 with Betnero)

  2. Method of Qualification – Manchester City in 90 minutes: Having lifted the EFL Cup, City could have an extra spring in their step, and they could get the job done inside 90 minutes. (4/5 with Bet Vickers)

  3. First Goal – Manchester City: It is likely to be a special atmosphere inside the Etihad, and City could feed off the energy of the crowd by grabbing the opening goal of the game. (8/13 with Dragon Bet)

Value Bets

If you wish to expand your betting horizons, then check out the following wagers for Manchester City vs Liverpool found at popular betting platforms that hold some value.

  1. Anytime Goalscorer – Mohamed Salah: While he has been quiet in front of goal this term, Salah has a decent record against City, and the anytime market carries value. (23/10 with Lucky Mate)

  2. Manchester City to win 2-1, 3-1, or 4-1: City nailed one of these Correct Score combinations earlier in the season, so this market could be worth unlocking. (7/2 with Priced Up)

  3. Total Corners Over 8.5: Encounters between these sides are end-to-end, and there are plenty of corners distributed, with the Over 8.5 corners line met in each of the past four meetings. This is worth tapping up. (21/4 with Best Odds) 

Prediction: Manchester City to Win

Although the recent head-to-head record indicates that Liverpool have a hold over City at the Etihad in the FA Cup, the Reds aren’t the same force as last season.

As soon as it seems like they have turned a corner, they take a few steps back. The pace of Doku and Semenyo could be too much for Liverpool to handle, and they could have a field day. A home win and City to progress to the semi-finals is what we’re going for.

Charles Perrin
Charles PerrinSports Betting Writer

Charles Perrin is a seasoned sports and betting journalist with a career built around delivering insightful, engaging, and SEO-savvy content for a global digital audience. With a focus on football, NBA, NHL, golf, and a wide range of other sports, Charles has spent over a decade creating content that blends analysis, tips, and features in a way that keeps readers coming back.

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