Liverpool need Darwin Nunez, Jeremy Doku could run riot for Man City but Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz could expose them

The Premier League is BACK! 

What better way to celebrate the end of another international break than a blockbuster clash between Man City and Liverpool - and you can listen to it all on talkSPORT.

The Premier League heavyweights will go toe-to-toe at the Etihad and if it’s anything like their showdowns in recent years then we are in for a cracker.

Last season, they played each other four times and shared 15 goals across those matches.

They won two games apiece, with City thrashing Jurgen Klopp’s side 4-1 at the Etihad in April in their most recent encounter.

Erling Haaland was not fit that day, but that did not matter as they dismantled their rivals.

Haaland’s fitness is in doubt once again after picking up a knock on the international break, but they already have the blueprint on how to win without him.

So we asked some of our talkSPORT presenters to give their take on how Saturday’s epic clash will go.

Jim White | Co-host of White and Jordan

“The international break is over and we're back to domestic football. And it all kicks off with Manchester City vs Liverpool.

“How do we think this will go? Well, both were scoring goals last time out.

“Manchester City were at Chelsea and scored four, but conceded four. And Liverpool, if memory serves me right, got three against Brentford. 

“How is it going to go? I can never really see past Manchester City at home, so I'll take Man City to win it, maybe 2-1.”

Alan Brazil | talkSPORT Breakfast host

“It's going to be an absolute cracker and I cannot wait, especially after the international rubbish we've seen. This is what it's all about, the Premier League, Manchester City v Liverpool.

“It's a game Liverpool have to get something from. City will be looking at Arsenal and teams below them thinking, uh-oh, we can't slip up here.

“I'm going to go 2-2 draw. I think Liverpool will be up for this, I think City are still the best team probably in the world, for me. But Liverpool on the day can really turn it on. And it's Pep against Klopp, I'm going for a thriller, 2-2.”

Gabby Agbonlahor | Former Aston Villa striker

“This is a big game, they don't really get bigger than this now in the Premier League. 

“These two teams have been at it for a few years now, sharing the league titles between them. I just think Manchester City have got too much.

“I look at Liverpool and I still see some weaknesses around their team. Darwin Nunez is good one week, he's off it next week. 

“At the back, they're conceding some goals as well. Manchester City are looking complete, they've got over their wobble, and I'm going to go for a Manchester City win by two goals to nil.”

Danny Murphy | Former Liverpool midfielder

“Trying to predict this one is really difficult because there's two factors. One is the injuries and knocks coming back from internationals.

“We don't know yet, Haaland is a doubt, etcetera. 

“The other thing is the attitude of the managers to play those players who might be turning up from South America on Thursday morning. 

“I think for Liverpool it's crucial that you have pace. To score against City and beat City, generally, I think pace is key. Not just pace but energy as well.

“If Liverpool go there and win, it certainly cements their position as a contender again.

“I think it's a fascinating game because of the quality that's on show. It's a little bit disappointing that it's a 12:30pm kick-off. Only because of the tempo and quality that you want to see the game played at. 

“Putting that aside, I think it's an intriguing game because what City have been doing recently is releasing one of the centre-halves into midfield, whether it be Akanji or Stones, rather than a full-back. 

“We saw at Chelsea, if you've got pace against them, and there's a quick turnover, there's space to run into. 

“If Liverpool have Diaz, Salah and Nunez up top, there's no-one better equipped than utilising space in behind teams than those three. 

“The way City play, it's a great thing to watch. On the flipside, what you've got is Liverpool releasing Trent [Alexander-Arnold] into a midfield area from right-back. 

“If Doku plays, with his amazing pace and directness, that's going to cause Liverpool a problem because Konate’s been injured and if Matip plays there and has to cover Trent, with his lack of athleticism against Doku…. So there's all these little technical things going on.”