by 
07:14
So the big names begin
De Bruyne, Mahrez and Gundogan start for City Haaland, while Nunez and Carvalho form the top three for Liverpool Salah.
The hosts have had great success with their starting 11, while Liverpool is less successful with Nunez, the only player to appear in the World Cup.
Starts for Santa City
Or Kevin de Bruyne?
07:06 PM
Here’s to Liverpool
07:02
Here are Manchester City’s starting 11
18:56
Football is back at Etihad
15:35
back to action
Liverpool in Manchester City is a fixture that will excite any football fan – always a game full of intrigue and sub-intrigue, and this Carabao Cup match is no different because it will be a different game. Just four days after the World Cup final, this is both sides’ first competitive fixture since the hiatus, and both teams will be impressed by the tournament in Qatar.
Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk and France defender Ibrahima Konate are not expected to be on Jurgen Klopp’s squad, but their attack looks close to full strength as Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino – both not in the World Cup – are in.
The home side was more impressed than any other Premier League team – Pep Guardiola’s team had 16 away players in Qatar, most of all teams.
A few players are returning to training for only a few days, while those related to England and Portugal will be back next week. The list of unavailable players includes Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker, Phil Foden, Joao Cancelo, Nathan Ake and Ederson. The only regular starters who didn’t make it to the tournament were Norway’s Erling Haaland and Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez.
“We have no players. We have four or five players. [are here] so we have to see how and when [all] Come back,” said City manager Guardiola. “We’re in a tough spot. We don’t have players, but the great minds of football made this program, so we’re going to play this game.
“Some players are coming now, yes, in the next few days. Step by step they will rejoin the people here. Nathan [Ake]Aymeric [Laporte] And Rodri is back and then the English players and Portugal are back.”
Many people think that players in the World Cup may have a slow pace due to fatigue, but the City manager thinks the real problem will be with players like Erling Haaland who are on a one-month hiatus. And the Spaniard sees tonight’s cup game as the key to getting them back in full match condition.
“Therefore [this match] important. Keeping the rhythm and catching that rhythm for players who aren’t in the World Cup.”
Stay here for all the pre-match preparations, team news and action, which will start at 20:00.
