Liverpool lineup vs. Man City: Predicted XI for FA Cup quarter-final

Liverpool could be without up to seven players for Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final clash with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

First-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker remains sidelined with a muscle injury and is joined in the treatment room by Wataru Endo (ankle), Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni (both knee).

Jeremie Frimpong will be assessed after sustaining an unspecified injury on international duty with the Netherlands, and the same can be said for soon-to-be-departing Mohamed Salah who is “very close” to a return after missing the 2-1 Premier League loss to Brighton a fortnight ago through injury.

Meanwhile, Liverpool fans were boosted by the news that Alexander Isak returned to training earlier this week after more than three months out with a broken leg. It remains to be seen whether the club-record signing will feature in the matchday squad against Man City, though.

Liverpool are light in the defensive department and should Frimpong miss out, Dominik Szoboszlai could be tasked with filling in at right-back, joining Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk and either Milos Kerkez or Andrew Robertson in a four-man defence, protecting goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch are likely to continue in centre-midfield, and Florian Wirtz could operate in the number 10 role is Szoboszlai starts at right-back, while Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike are both expected to retain their starting spots in attack.

Federico Chiesa is available for selection, despite withdrawing from international duty with Italy due to a fitness issue, and he could rival Rio Ngumoha for a start on the right flank, if Salah is not deemed fit to start.

Liverpool possible starting lineup: Mamardashvili; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike

> Click here to see how Manchester City could line up for this contest