Manchester City vs Liverpool meet at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, April 4, 2026, in one of the standout ties of the FA Cup quarter-finals.
City arrive after beating Liverpool 2-1 in the Premier League at Anfield, while Liverpool head into the last-eight clash with strong FA Cup history against City, having won each of the last four meetings in the competition and not lost to them in the FA Cup since 1973.
This is one of the biggest domestic cup ties of the season and a rematch of many recent high-stakes encounters between the two Premier League giants.
FA Cup 2025 finalist Manchester City are aiming to push through to the semifinals and final, while in the 2025-26 Premier League season, Liverpool sits in 5th place, and Manchester City holds 2nd spot.
The 2026 FA Cup final will be played at London’s Wembley Stadium on May 16. The winner of the tournament will also earn a place in the 2026-27 UEFA Europa League.
Manchester City vs Liverpool – Match Details, Date, Time, Predictions, Lineups & More
- Match: Manchester City vs Liverpool.
- Tournament: FA Cup Quarter-Final.
- Date: Saturday, April 4, 2026.
- Time: 12:45 PM BST / 7:45 AM ET.
- Ticket: Mancity Official
- Stadium: Etihad Stadium, Manchester.
Team News and Analysis
Manchester City
Manchester City come into this tie with confidence after their late 2-1 Premier League win over Liverpool at Anfield earlier this season, and they also lifted the League Cup with a 2-0 win over Arsenal at Wembley before this quarter-final.
Their official match preview says the team is back at the Etihad for a heavyweight cup clash, and Pep Guardiola will expect another sharp performance in front of home fans.
The big concern is in defense. A recent report from The Standard says City are sweating over the fitness of John Stones and Ruben Dias, while Josko Gvardiol is listed as injured.
The same report says Erling Haaland should be fresh after not going away on international duty, and Omar Marmoush is also in strong attacking form after scoring twice in the fifth-round win over Newcastle.
Liverpool
Liverpool head to Manchester with a strong FA Cup record against City. Their official club stats page says the Reds have won each of the last four FA Cup meetings and have not lost to City in this competition since 1973.
Liverpool also notes that this will be their 458th FA Cup match, and they are chasing a 26th semi-final appearance.
There is good news for Liverpool on the fitness front. The club’s latest injury update says Arne Slot is confident Mohamed Salah and Federico Chiesa will be available, while Jeremie Frimpong will be assessed and Alisson Becker remains sidelined.
The Guardian also reported that Salah had responded well to treatment and could return at the Etihad, which is a huge boost for Liverpool’s attack.
Head-to-Head Statistics
This matchup has plenty of history, but the FA Cup story leans strongly toward Liverpool. According to their official stats, they’ve won the last four FA Cup clashes and haven’t lost to City in the competition since 1973.
On the other hand, City’s official preview points out that the most recent league meeting ended 2-1 in their favor at Anfield, sealed by late strikes from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland.
| Date | Competition Type | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Feb. 2026 | Premier League | Liverpool 1-2 Manchester City |
| Apr. 2022 | FA Cup | Manchester City 2-3 Liverpool |
| Mar. 2022 | FA Cup | Manchester City 0-0 Liverpool |
| 2022 | FA Cup semi-final | Liverpool won on their way to the final |
Manchester City vs Liverpool Starting XI
- Manchester City Starting XI vs Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, Ait-Nouri; Bernardo, Rodri, O’Reilly; Semenyo, Haaland, Cherki
- Liverpool Starting XI vs Manchester City (4-3-3): Mamardashvili; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
Key Players to Watch
- Manchester City: Erling Haaland, Omar Marmoush, Phil Foden, Rodri, Bernardo Silva. Haaland remains the main goal threat, while Marmoush’s form and Rodri’s control in midfield could shape the game.
- Liverpool: Mohamed Salah, Federico Chiesa, Wirtz, Alexis Mac Allister, Virgil van Dijk. Salah’s possible return is the headline, and Van Dijk gives Liverpool the leadership they need in a big away tie.
Match Prediction
This should be one of the best games of the round. City have home advantage and recent momentum from their Anfield win, but Liverpool’s FA Cup record against Guardiola’s side is excellent and Salah’s possible return changes the feel of the tie.
It looks very close, but City may just have enough at home. Prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool. That is an inference based on the official form notes, squad news, and head-to-head history.
Where to Watch Manchester City vs Liverpool
In the UK, the match is listed on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max, with Manchester City’s preview also naming Prime Video. The FA’s fixture page confirms the quarter-final listing and broadcast details.
- USA: Live on ESPN and ESPN+ (11:30 AM ET kick-off).
- UK: BBC One or ITV (check final listings).
- Global: DAZN, TNT Sports, or local broadcasters. Highlights will be available shortly after full time on BBC, ESPN, and official FA Cup channels.
When is Manchester City vs Liverpool?
Saturday, April 4, 2026.
What time does it kick off?
12:45 PM BST, which is 7:45 AM ET.
Where is the match being played?
Etihad Stadium in Manchester.
Who is out for Liverpool?
Liverpool say Alisson remains sidelined, while Frimpong will be assessed and Salah is expected to be available.
Who will win the match?
Manchester City are a slight favorite at home, but Liverpool’s FA Cup record in this matchup makes it very close. That is an inference based on the official team news and historical FA Cup results.
