The reliable bookmaker 1xBet talks about the Premier League 13th-round central match, where Manchester City will take on Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on November 25.
Man City returned to the champion schedule
Manchester City lost three matches in September and October, but after the defeat to Arsenal, Pep Guardiola’s team gained great momentum and topped the table by the international break. The Citizens beat strong Brighton (2-1), silenced Old Trafford in the derby with Manchester United (3-0), destroyed Bournemouth (6-1), and staged a real thriller with Chelsea (4-4). The game against the Blues was an actual football holiday, but only for Chelsea fans – as City led three times during the match and conceded a fourth goal in stoppage time. In the last game, Guardiola couldn’t count on his most important defensive player, John Stones, due to injury, and there is no guarantee the Englishman will recover for the meeting with Liverpool. However, the best defense is an attack. The team has 32 goals, and Erling Haaland scored 13 of them. Stopping a forward is difficult, but Arsenal has already shown it is possible. Will Virgil Van Dijk cope with the Norwegian scoring machine? After the injury in the collision with Pickford, the Dutchman lost his speed but not the football intelligence; he remains at the level of the player close to the Ballon d’Or in 2019.
Klopp knows how to play against Guardiola
Liverpool failed in last season’s first half and couldn’t rise above fifth place in the final standings. Experts said that the Reds should think about finding a new coach, but the management believed in Jurgen Klopp, and now his team is second in the Premier League, only a point behind Man City. The Merseysiders rebuilt their midfield, signing Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, and Wataru Endō. The newcomers quickly understood Klopp’s ideas and began to do good. Szoboszlai and Mac Allister were especially helpful. In their previous clubs, they mastered the ins and outs of high pressing, which, combined with football intelligence, technique, and stamina, makes them indispensable to Liverpool’s style.
The coaching duel deserves special attention. Klopp knows better than anyone else how to beat Guardiola and has inflicted 12 defeats on him. Liverpool and Arsenal have the best defense this season and conceded just 10 goals, but can the Reds stop Manchester City on their pitch? All hope lies in counterattacks and the magnificent Salah, who, in the shadow of the media Haaland, has already scored 10 goals and is still one of the world’s best attacking players.
What to expect
Meetings between Man City and Liverpool are rarely dull. In 9 of the last 11 matches, at least 4 goals were scored. Guardiola and Klopp know each other well and are sure to prepare an excellent football show! Watch the top game and support your favorites with the football betting company 1xBet!
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West Ham have swiftly dismissed a bid worth a staggering £90m from treble winners Manchester City for their captain, Declan Rice.
The offer from City was believed to consist of an initial payment of £80m, falling short of West Ham’s desired sum of £100m for the talented midfielder.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are expected to submit a third bid for the 24-year-old English international.
West Ham turned down Arsenal’s second bid, which involved an initial payment of £75m split across four installments, alongside £15m in additional payments, just last week.
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Rice’s existing contract with West Ham is set to expire in 2024, although there is an option for a one-year extension until the summer of 2025.
In the aftermath of West Ham’s triumphant victory over Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League earlier this month, chairman David Sullivan expressed his confidence that Rice would depart from the club this summer, stating he was “99%” certain of the impending transfer.
Despite securing a potential deal with Chelsea for Mateo Kovacic at a fee of £25m, the departure of Ilkay Gundogan to Barcelona has intensified Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola’s desire to reinforce his midfield options. Rice is seen as the perfect candidate to bolster the team’s strength in that area of the pitch.
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC – JUNE 07: Declan Rice of West Ham United celebrates with the UEFA Europa Conference League trophy after the team’s victory during the UEFA Europa Conference League 2022/23 final match between ACF Fiorentina and West Ham United FC at Eden Arena on June 07, 2023 in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Tottenham have submitted a joint £50m bid to Leicester City for England midfielder James Maddison, 26, and 25-year-old England forward Harvey Barnes. (Source: Mail)
Manchester United, Manchester City, and Chelsea could all enter the bidding war for West Ham’s 24-year-old England midfielder Declan Rice after Arsenal’s initial £90m bid was turned down. (Source: Telegraph)
Arsenal are continuing to prioritize a deal for Rice and have therefore pulled out of the race to sign 21-year-old Brighton and Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo. (Source: Times)
Caicedo has decided to join Chelsea, with the final negotiations now taking place. (Source: Sky Sport Germany)
Chelsea and Germany forward Kai Havertz, 24, has agreed personal terms with Arsenal, who are yet to finalize a deal with the Blues. (Source: Fabrizio Romano)
Chelsea face competition from Manchester United for the signing of Inter Milan’s Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana, 27, although United have also shortlisted Porto’s Portugal keeper Diogo Costa, 23. (Source: Guardian)
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Newcastle United remain in pole position to sign Scotland full-back Kieran Tierney, 26, with Arsenal braced for bids in the next couple of weeks. (Source: Football Insider)
Atalanta will demand a figure “well in advance” of their club transfer record of £45m for Denmark striker Rasmus Hojlund, with Manchester United and Chelsea interested in the 20-year-old. (Source: Mail)
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Liverpool are interested in Paris St-Germain’s 17-year-old French midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery, who is also admired by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and could be targeted in a swap deal for Portugal forward Bernardo Silva, 28. (Source: RMC Sport)
Arsenal remain in the race to sign Ilkay Gundogan this summer, but the 32-year-old’s former club Borussia Dortmund have withdrawn their interest in the Germany midfielder, who is out of contract at Manchester City this summer. (Source: Bild)
Bayern Munich are leading candidates to sign Napoli’s 26-year-old South Korea defender Kim Min-jae, who has also been linked with Manchester United. (Source: Sky Sports)
Saudi club Al-Tawoon has offered 30-year-old Spain striker Alvaro Morata 50m euros per year (£42.8m) to join them from Atletico Madrid. (Source: Sport)
Borussia Dortmund have joined Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Burnley in the hunt to sign Japan striker Keito Nakamura, 22, from Austrian side LASK. (Source: Mail)
Luton Town have made a move to sign Dutch winger Tahith Chong, 23, from Birmingham City this summer. (Source: Football Insider)
Manchester City assistant coach Enzo Maresca is being linked with the vacant Leicester City manager’s job. (Source: Athletic)
Arsenal are nearing a £100m agreement to sign 24-year-old England midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham. (The Guardian)
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, intends to depart the club when his contract expires in 2025. (The Guardian)
RB Leipzig has set a minimum fee of £75m for the potential sale of 21-year-old Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol to Manchester City. (Talksport)
Manchester City turned down Paris St-Germain’s proposal to include Italy midfielder Marco Verratti, 30, and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, 24, as part of a deal to acquire Portugal playmaker Bernardo Silva from the Treble winners. (Footmercato)
Arsenal is concerned that Chelsea could outbid them for the signing of 24-year-old Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo by offering the Ecuador international a more lucrative contract. (Football Transfers)
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Chelsea has identified 27-year-old Cameroon international Andre Onana as their primary target for a new goalkeeper, but Inter Milan demands at least £50m for his transfer. (Evening Standard)
Manchester United is in ongoing negotiations with Chelsea regarding 24-year-old England midfielder Mason Mount, but the two clubs have yet to reach an agreement due to a valuation gap. (Sky Sports)
Manchester United is unlikely to pursue a move for Tottenham striker Harry Kane, 29, as Spurs are unwilling to sell their England captain, especially to another Premier League club. (Sky Sports)
Tottenham is expected to initiate discussions with Brentford to discuss a transfer fee for 27-year-old Spain goalkeeper David Raya. However, both Tottenham and Manchester United are hesitant to meet Brentford’s £40m valuation. (Sky Sports)
Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, 30, is set to reject a £30m-per-year offer from Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr. Paris St-Germain and Marseille have expressed interest in signing the Ivory Coast forward on a free transfer this summer. (The Guardian)
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Newcastle United is preparing a bid for 22-year-old German midfielder Felix Nmecha from Wolfsburg, with an estimated cost of around £15m. They are also monitoring 22-year-old Nice and France midfielder Khephren Thuram. (The Telegraph)
Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who was a target for Manchester United last year, expects to remain at Barcelona next season and is likely to play a key role in manager Xavi’s plans. (Voetbal International)
Aston Villa is considering recruiting Sevilla sporting director Monchi, who previously worked with manager Unai Emery at the Spanish club. (Express & Star)
Chelsea is anticipated to offload up to 10 players during the summer transfer window. (Football London)
Christian Eriksen’s involvement could aid Manchester United in their pursuit of Atalanta and Denmark forward Rasmus Hojlund, 20. (Manchester Evening News)
Barcelona and Spain forward Ansu Fati, 20, disagrees with his agent Jorge Mendes and has no intention of leaving Barcelona for a swap deal with Wolves involving Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves, 26. (Sport)
Manchester City tasted Champions League glory at last on Saturday as a second-half Rodri strike gave the favourites a 1-0 victory over Inter Milan in a tense final, allowing Pep Guardiola’s side to complete a remarkable treble.
Rodri fired in from a Bernardo Silva cutback midway through the second half at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium to decide a game in which City were knocked out of their usual rhythm and lost Kevin De Bruyne to injury.
Erling Haaland, scorer of 52 goals this season, went a fifth straight match without finding the net, but City still had enough to edge out opponents who had never been expected to get this far in the first place.
Having already claimed a fifth Premier League title in six seasons, and added the FA Cup, City are the first English club to win such a treble since Manchester United in 1999.
That same month 24 years ago, City won the English third-tier play-off final on penalties against Gillingham.
Now they have established themselves as England’s dominant side and have finally added the biggest prize in European club football, two years after losing to Chelsea in their first final.
The match was watched by owner Sheikh Mansour, who made a very rare appearance at a City game as his team capped their rise from also-rans to superpower in the years since he bought the club in 2008.
– Guardiola’s third title –
Twelve years after last lifting the trophy with Barcelona, meanwhile, Guardiola joins an elite club of coaches to have won the Champions League three times.
Yet having brushed aside RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid to reach the final, City did not have it easy against Inter, who saw Federico Dimarco and substitute Romelu Lukaku both almost equalise late on.
Inter had hoped to spring a surprise and lift the trophy for the fourth time. It was not to be, but Simone Inzaghi’s side will be back in the competition again next season.
Victory for Guardiola’s men, to go with the three titles of rivals United, means Manchester becomes just the second city to produce two different winners of the competition, after Milan.
The occasion did not match the drama of the last Champions League final held at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium.
Liverpool triumphed here in 2005, recovering from a three-goal deficit against AC Milan to draw 3-3 before winning on penalties.
However, it also passed off without serious incident, a year after chaos overshadowed the final at the Stade de France in Paris, even if the stadium’s location some 25 kilometres west of central Istanbul did not make access simple for supporters.
Manchester City are just one game away against Inter Milan from achieving an historic treble, as they already clinched the domestic double by winning the Premier League and the FA Cup.
Their final hurdle is facing Inter in the Champions League final, which has been the one trophy that has eluded City since their takeover in 2008. Pep Guardiola, no stranger to this stage, is aiming to win his third Champions League title as a manager, having previously triumphed twice with Barcelona.
Guardiola’s success in the Champions League has made him one of the most decorated managers in the competition’s history. If City emerges victorious, it remains to be seen whether Guardiola will continue as the club’s manager, as he has expressed his desire to respect his contract but also acknowledged that he would like to stay at City regardless of the results.
City enters the final in impressive form, having finished the Premier League season with 12 consecutive victories. They also defeated Manchester United in the FA Cup final at Wembley. Unsurprisingly, they are considered overwhelming favorites for the Champions League final.
Inter, on the other hand, finished third in Serie A and will face a challenging task in overcoming City. Although they finished their season strongly with 11 wins out of 12 games, including a Coppa Italia final triumph, they lost their opening match in the Champions League. They are only the fourth team to reach the final after losing their first match of the season, but history shows that those previous teams all fell short in the final.
The final promises an intriguing clash of styles. City’s possession-based approach sees them recover the ball and initiate their attacks further up the field compared to any other team in this season’s Champions League. In contrast, Inter tend to sit back and rely on counter-attacks, with their shots from such situations ranking among the highest in the competition.
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In terms of team news, City is expected to field their strongest lineup, with no major injury concerns apart from a minor back issue for Kyle Walker. Inter, meanwhile, can likely count on the fitness of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Milan Škriniar, although Joaquín Correa may miss out due to a calf injury.
As the eagerly anticipated final approaches, all eyes will be on Istanbul to witness whether Manchester City can secure their first-ever Champions League title and complete a remarkable treble.
PREVIOUS MEETING
In Saturday’s Champions League final, Manchester City and Inter will face each other for the first time in a competitive match. Their only previous encounter was a pre-season friendly in 2011, where City emerged victorious with a 3-0 win, featuring a goal from Edin Džeko, who is now expected to lead the attack for Inter.
This upcoming final will mark a significant moment in their history as they meet on the grand stage for the first time.
RECENT FORM
Manchester City showed their strength and determination in the FA Cup final, dispelling any concerns over their recent below-par performances in the Premier League. Despite a slight dip in form towards the end of the league season, City had already secured the title with an impressive winning streak and notable victories in the Champions League against RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid.
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Their last three league games were played with a rotated squad, and they returned to full strength for the FA Cup final against Chelsea, showcasing their true potential with a convincing 1-0 win over rivals Manchester United.
Inter Milan, on the other hand, finished their season on a high note, winning 11 out of their final 12 matches in all competitions. Their only setback was a 3-1 defeat to Napoli, which saw them reduced to 10 men early in the game.
Inter’s solid defensive record is worth noting, as they have kept eight clean sheets in 12 Champions League matches this season, including five in the knockout stages. A clean sheet in the final would see them equal the record for the most clean sheets in the knockout stages in a single edition of the tournament.
Both teams have reasons to be confident heading into the final, with City showcasing their dominance throughout the season and Inter’s impressive run of form. It sets the stage for an exciting clash between two formidable sides.
KEY PLAYERS
Man City – Erling Haaland
Among the talented players in Manchester City’s lineup, all eyes will be on Erling Haaland during the Champions League final. With 12 goals in the competition this season, he shares the record for the most goals in a single season for an English club, a feat previously achieved by Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2002-03.
Haaland will be eager to break the record by finding the back of the net against Inter Milan, and the Italian side’s success may hinge on their ability to contain him.
Haaland’s goal drought in the last two Champions League games is highly unusual considering his prolific scoring record. Throughout his career, he has never gone three consecutive matches without finding the net in the competition. If he manages to score in the final, he will become the first Norwegian since Ole Gunnar Solksjaer in 1999 to do so.
Inter Milan boasts a solid defensive record in the tournament, but they will need to be at their absolute best to neutralize Haaland’s threat and minimize his impact on the game. Stopping the Norwegian striker will be crucial to their chances of lifting the trophy.
Inter Milan – Lautaro Martinez
Inter Milan’s top scorer, likely referring to Lautaro Martínez, has proven himself as a big-game player. He finished the season with an impressive tally of 11 goals in his last 13 appearances, with four of those goals coming off the bench. This strong run of form positions him well heading into the Champions League final.
Martínez had already tasted success on the international stage by winning the World Cup with Argentina in December. If he or Manchester City’s Julián Álvarez, who may not see much playing time, feature in both the World Cup and European Cup finals, they would join an exclusive group of players who have achieved this double in the same season.
In the 21st century, only Roberto Carlos (2002 with Brazil and Real Madrid) and Raphaël Varane (2018 with France and Real Madrid) have accomplished this feat.
With Martínez expected to start, this presents a significant opportunity for the Inter forward to add another major trophy to his collection.
Arsenal is intensifying their pursuit of Declan Rice from West Ham for £92m, aiming to secure the midfielder’s transfer before the start of pre-season (Telegraph).
West Ham is interested in acquiring Joao Palhinha, a defensive midfielder from Fulham and Portugal, as a potential replacement for Rice. Other targets include Kalvin Phillips from Manchester City and England, and James Ward-Prowse from Southampton and England (Mail).
Chelsea is also eyeing Declan Rice, along with Moises Caicedo, a 21-year-old midfielder from Brighton and Ecuador (90min).
Khephren Thuram, a 22-year-old midfielder from Nice and France, has reportedly reached a verbal agreement on personal terms with Liverpool (Football Transfers).
Mateo Kovacic, a 29-year-old midfielder from Chelsea and Croatia, has agreed to personal terms with Manchester City after advanced negotiations (Fabrizio Romano).
Liverpool has scheduled talks with the representatives of Manu Kone, a 22-year-old French midfielder from Borussia Monchengladbach (Fabrizio Romano).
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Real Madrid is working on a £68m bid to sign Harry Kane, the English striker from Tottenham Hotspur, as Manchester United’s attempts have been rebuffed by the Spurs chairman (Marca).
Newcastle is exploring transfer targets from relegated Premier League teams, including Tyler Adams, a 24-year-old midfielder from Leeds United and the USA, Harvey Barnes, a 24-year-old winger from Leicester City, and James Maddison, a 26-year-old midfielder from Leicester City (Telegraph).
Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham’s new manager, considers James Maddison a priority target, but the club will need to pay more than £50m for the English international (Telegraph).
Ilkay Gundogan, a 32-year-old midfielder from Manchester City and Germany, is being pursued by Paris St-Germain, the French champions (L’Equipe).
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Reports from Spain suggest that Gundogan has already agreed to a three-year deal with Barcelona, which will be announced after the Champions League final (Mundo Deportivo).
Al Ahli, a Saudi Arabian side, has expressed interest in signing Riyad Mahrez, a 32-year-old Algeria winger from Manchester City (Fabrizio Romano).
Tottenham will need to increase their valuation of £20m if they want to secure the services of David Raya, a 27-year-old goalkeeper from Brentford, as the latter is prepared to reject offers below £40m (i Sport).
Arsenal sees Ivan Fresneda, an 18-year-old Spanish right-back from La Liga side Valladolid, as a viable summer option (Football London).
Leicester City is considering Steven Gerrard, the former Aston Villa manager, as their next boss following relegation from the Premier League (Mail).
Zinedine Zidane has rejected an approach from PSG to become the head coach, replacing Christophe Galtier (Le Parisien).
Tottenham will request Juventus to lower their £35m asking price for the permanent transfer of Dejan Kulusevski, a 23-year-old forward from Sweden (Nicolo Schira).
Sergei Palkin, the chief executive of Shakhtar Donetsk, has threatened legal action against Tottenham if they attempt to sign Manor Solomon, a 23-year-old Israeli winger who was on loan at Fulham last season, on a free transfer (ESPN).
Manchester United is contemplating loaning out Mason Greenwood, a 21-year-old English forward, to a European club for the upcoming season (Mail).
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed that the club is still actively pursuing a new contract for midfielder Ilkay Gundogan.
Gundogan’s existing contract is set to expire at the end of the month, and there has been interest from Barcelona in acquiring him on a free transfer. However, Guardiola remains determined to retain the services of the 32-year-old, who currently serves as the captain of Manchester City.
Gundogan has showcased his immense value to the team, particularly in the FA Cup final victory on Saturday, where he scored two remarkable long-range goals. This impressive display brought his total goal tally for the season to 11, accompanied by seven assists across all competitions.
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Following the match at Wembley, Guardiola made it clear that he is not willing to concede defeat in his efforts to secure Gundogan’s continued presence at the club. Manchester City is actively engaged in negotiations to extend Gundogan’s contract and is determined to retain his services for the upcoming seasons.
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“He knows what I think,” Guardiola said. “Txiki [Begiristain, football director] is working on it. Hopefully, he can be successful.”
Gundogan also took the opportunity to speak out after the game, stressing his love for City but refusing to make any commitments.
“I feel very appreciated at the club,” Gundogan told beIN Sports. “I have never been at a football club for seven years.
“So, I think that shows how much I love this team, the manager and I love this club. We will see what’s going to happen.”
Guardiola has never hidden his desire to retain Gundogan, but talks over an extension with City have so far proven fruitless and Barcelona are determined to take advantage of the situation with a bargain move for one of the world’s most in-form midfielders.
The Spanish side must, however, wait for La Liga to approve their financial plan before pushing ahead with any moves.
A brace from Ilkay Gundogan proved the difference on Saturday as Manchester City beat rivals Manchester United 2-1 in the FA Cup final.
Erik ten Hag’s men put up a spirited fight but were unable to claim their second piece of silverware of the season, falling to a narrow defeat at Wembley.
Pep Guardiola’s side completed a league-and-cup double and their dreams of winning the treble are still alive heading into next week’s Champions League final against Inter.
With just 12 seconds on the clock, Gundogan scored the fastest goal in the history of the FA Cup final. Stefan Ortega’s long punt forward was nodded forward by Erling Haaland and half-cleared by Victor Lindelof, with the ball falling kindly for the German midfielder to hit on the volley, firing into the top corner of David de Gea’s net.
Three minutes later, Rodri nearly headed in a second from an in-swinging Kevin De Bruyne free-kick, with his effort whistling past the near post.
Haaland’s movement and physicality continued to cause Man Utd problems. Midway through the first half, he shrugged Raphael Varane away from a bouncing ball and managed to beat him with a quick swivel before letting fly from 20 yards, but his strike sailed just over.
The Red Devils’ first sight of goal came when Casemiro clipped a ball into the 18-yard box and it was met by Marcus Rashford, but his header was weak and wayward, trickling way wide.
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Despite their poor start, Man Utd were offered a reprieve when they were awarded a penalty. Bruno Fernandes’ cross-field ball was headed on by Aaron Wan-Bissaka and the ball deflected off the hand of the challenging Jack Grealish, and a spot kick was given following a VAR check.
Fernandes stepped up to take and rolled it home to equalise, marking the first time Man City have conceded in this season’s FA Cup.
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Just before the break, Man Utd nearly took the lead against the run of play. A corner from Christian Eriksen was flicked on by Casemiro and the ball flew into the path of Varane, whose fast-thinking volley arrowed to the right of Ortega’s goal.
Within six minutes of the restart, Man City found themselves back in front. De Bruyne won a free-kick by the touchline after being cynically chopped down by Fred, and the Belgian pulled the ball back from the set piece to find Gundogan free on the edge of the box. The skipper again struck it on the volley, and though this time the contact wasn’t as clean, it still trickled past De Gea and in.
De Gea was at least able to deny De Bruyne directly when he made a darting run into the Man Utd box and fired from around 12 yards, keeping the midfielder out with a low save.
Rashford had to wait until the 69th minute to trouble Man City, neatly turning on the edge of the penalty area and unleashing a venomous strike that brushed the paintwork of the crossbar on the way over.
60 seconds later, Man City had the ball in the net for a third time. Grealish’s cut-back was swung towards goal by Haaland, and his shot was spilled by De Gea into the path of Gundogan to tap in. However, the offside flag was quickly up to deny him a hat-trick.
The game was opening back up a bit and substitute Alejandro Garnacho was inches away from equalising with a curled shot from 20 yards, only narrowly dragging it wide.
Man City nearly added another as the match entered the final 10 minutes when a cross from Bernardo Silva through the six yard box just about missed the onrushing Manuel Akanji.
Haaland then managed to dance and twist his way into the Man Utd box and force a challenge from Varane, whose tackle ricocheted off the Norwegian’s shins and mercifully wide.
Man Utd twice came within millimetres of equalising in stoppage time. Ortega did well to spread himself to deny Varane from close range, deflecting his effort onto the bar, before Scott McTominay’s rebound took a nick off a Man City player and bounced on top of the net.
But that was as close as the Red Devils came to levelling the final again and Man City held their nerve to take home the FA Cup.
