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Arne Slot and Pep Guardiola.(Image: Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

Liverpool might be 17 points ahead of Man city in the Premier League table, but they are taking nothing for granted ahead of their trip to the Etihad on Sunday.

Having twice lost the league title by a solitary point to Guardiola’s men, who can blame them.

Arne Slot’s pre-match press conferences traditionally take place on Friday mornings ahead of a weekend game.



But this week, and not for the first time, it was brought forward to Thursday.

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When the club first made such a change earlier this season, ahead of hosting Man City at Anfield on December 1, fans theorised whether it could instead mean a Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and/or Trent Alexander-Arnold contract announcement would be imminent on Friday.

After all, when Liverpool memorably made such a scheduling change in January 2024, it was so Jurgen Klopp could announce his departure in the traditional pre-match press conference slot.

Alas, not that time.

Consequently, there was no such speculation when Slot faced the press on Thursday rather than Friday earlier this week.

Yet there is no escaping that Liverpool have benefitted from going early with their latest pre-match media duties.

For starters, by speaking before Guardiola, Slot would have nothing to respond to from the Spaniard’s own pre-match press conference.

But it also meant that the Reds could be rather than more clouded when it came to injury news.

Slot will be left without at least Joe Gomez and Tyler Morton for the trip to the Etihad, with the pair long-term absentees after undergoing surgery on hamstring and shoulder injuries respectively.

Meanwhile, the Dutchman confirmed he also expected Conor Bradley to miss out after the Northern Ireland international limped off barely 12 hours prior to his Slot’s pre-match press conference against Aston Villa on Wednesday night.

“Conor still has to come in,” the head coach said when conceding there was no new update on the full-back on Thursday morning.

You can assume that’s not going to happen.”

The Reds head coach was also uncertain as to whether Cody Gakpo would be available for the trip to the Etihad, having missed Liverpool’s last two matches with a knock suffered against Everton.

“Let’s see, let’s see.

With Guardiola perhaps trying to second-guess Slot’s selection plans, he will have to do so with no pointers from the Reds.

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The sight of James McConnell and Trey Nyoni both completing 90 minutes for Liverpool Under-21s on Friday night away at Stoke City perhaps offered one small clue, suggesting their services will not be required at the Etihad.

But while the Reds could be left without the services of four players against Man City, this week ensures Gakpo’s availability at least remains something of a mystery that won't become clear until hours before kick-off.


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