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

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

Josko Gvardiol is making steady progress in his recovery from a tibial fracture, but he remains sidelined, while fellow defenders John Stones (calf) and Ruben Dias (hamstring) are both doubtful and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.

Dias pulled out of the Citizens squad that beat Arsenal 2-0 in the EFL Cup final a fortnight ago, but he could be recalled to the heart of Pep Guardiols’s defence if he is fit to return. He could play alongside Marc Guehi, who was ineligible for the EFL Cup showpiece, but Abdukodir Khusanov is also an option to start at centre-back.

After scoring two second-half goals in the EFL Cup final while playing at left-back, Nico O’Reilly could continue in defence at the expense of Rayan Ait-Nouri, but Guardiola may prefer to use the academy starlet in midfield alongside captain Bernardo Silva and Rodri.

Fresh from his 2026 World Cup playoff heartache with Italy, Gianluigi Donnarumma may begin as a substitute as James Trafford has been Man City’s cup goalkeeper so far this season. Matheus Nunes, meanwhile, is likely to keep his spot at right-back.

In attack, Erling Haaland is fit and available for selection; he played for just 63 minutes with Norway during the international break and is expected to lead the line for Man City this weekend.

Antoine Semenyo could join Haaland in the final third, while Rayan Cherki, Jeremy Doku, Omar Marmoush, Phil Foden and Savinho are all in contention to feature from the start. Marmoush started in City’s 2-1 Premier League win at Liverpool in February, but Cherki may get the nod from Guardiola on this occasion.

Manchester City possible starting lineup: Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi, Ait-Nouri; Bernardo, Rodri, O’Reilly; Semenyo, Haaland, Cherki

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