The Etihad hosts the Premier League's biggest fixture on Saturday 27 September 2026 (17:30 BST). Manchester City lead the table on 15 points after five games; Liverpool trail by three on 12. Erling Haaland (45 FPL points) meets Cody Gakpo (37 points) in a top-of-the-table showdown that doubles as the GW6 captain debate.
Manchester City: what changed
Pep Guardiola's City were flawless in GW5 — a 4–1 demolition of Sunderland, Haaland notching a hat-trick and penalty to vault to 45 FPL points. The 4–3–3 with Reijnders anchoring and Doku and Foden supplying width has found rhythm: nine goals scored in five games, just three conceded. Gvardiol (41 pts) leads the defenders; Cherki and Lewis dictate tempo against a Liverpool midfield that will press hard for the full 90.
Manchester City Predicted Starting XI & Lineup · 4-3-3
Official lineups confirmed 1 hour before kick-off.
Liverpool: the challenge ahead
Arne Slot's Liverpool head north off the back of a GW5 win at the Vitality — goals from Isak and Gakpo sealing a 3–1 result. The Reds are 12 points with a fixture-difficulty uptick now: away at City is the hardest possible assignment for GW6. Gakpo (37 FPL pts) and Isak remain premium; Bradley and Kerkez will be tested by Doku and Foden.
Season snapshot
- Man City are 1st on 15 points (14 scored, 5 conceded) through GW5.
- Last time out (GW5): Manchester City 4–1 Sunderland — Haaland hat-trick, Gvardiol assist.
- Man City's top FPL asset: Haaland (45 pts, £15.5m, 38.2% owned).
- Liverpool are 4th on 12 points (9 scored, 5 conceded) through GW5.
- Last time out (GW5): Bournemouth 1–3 Liverpool — Isak brace, Gakpo assist.
- Liverpool's top FPL asset: Gakpo (37 pts, £7.2m, 14.1% owned).
- Haaland has scored in four of five GW — the GW4 derby (1–0 Man United) was his only dry game.
- City have conceded just 5 goals in 5 games; Gvardiol's attacking returns add a DEF with forward productivity.
- Liverpool have conceded 5 goals in their last 3 games — a defensive fragility that City's frontline will target.
The tactical battle
City's structural press with Reijnders dropping to screen vs Liverpool's high line and Bradley overlapping — the key contest is Doku vs Kerkez on City's left. Slot will look to Isak's movement in behind to exploit space when City push their full-backs forward, while Haaland's first-phase presence in the box stretches Liverpool's central pair.
Recent history
City took seven points from Liverpool last season (two wins, one draw); the Etihad has been Liverpool's most difficult away fixture for three straight seasons. Slot's pressing system closes the gap but City's home record in top-six fixtures remains outstanding.
FPL picks to watch
- Erling Haaland (Man City, FWD): hat-trick in GW5, home vs Liverpool — consensus GW6 captain at £15.5m.
- Joško Gvardiol (Man City, DEF): 41 FPL pts, on set pieces — clean-sheet upside at the Etihad.
- Cody Gakpo (Liverpool, MID): 37 pts — differential captain if you're looking for rank movement.
- Alexander Isak (Liverpool, FWD): two goals in GW5, pace to test Dias on the break.
- Phil Foden (Man City, FWD): 36 pts — links Haaland and Doku at the peak of a strong run.
- Predictor: Man City 2–1 Liverpool.
Verdict
Haaland's home form and City's solidity tips a narrow win. Prediction: Manchester City 2–1 Liverpool.