“Guardiola declares that City ‘have their weapons back’ in a confident message ahead of the clash with Liverpool

Manchester City regain strength ahead of Liverpool clash

Manchester City’s injury issues are easing at the perfect moment for their meeting with Liverpool, with Pep Guardiola insisting he finally has “weapons” available again — a clear message that Liverpool will need to be fully locked in.

Speaking before Sunday’s match, Guardiola told mancity.com:
“You can see the bench now – we have options to change systems and the rhythm of the game. Players coming on can make a massive difference.”

After a difficult period last season, Guardiola explained that the return of key players has transformed their squad depth:
“That wasn’t possible last year and it was a big reason why we struggled. Now we have depth. Anyone can influence the game at any moment.”

It serves as a warning ahead of another significant Premier League meeting between two of the league’s fiercest rivals.

City will still be without Mateo Kovacic, who is sidelined until March 2026 due to an ankle injury, according to premierleagueinjuries.com. Guardiola acknowledged he will “be out for a while,” though the impact of that loss is softened by other returns.

Liverpool’s answer will show title intentions

For Liverpool, this match is a chance to show how far Arne Slot’s project has progressed since the summer rebuild.

Slot confirmed that Alexander Isak has rejoined full training, though he cautioned that the striker shouldn’t be expected to hit top form right away.

He also revealed that Alisson Becker and Jeremie Frimpong are expected to return after the international break, boosting Liverpool’s defensive options.

Opta’s supercomputer gives City the edge, predicting a 45.4% chance of a home win versus 27.7% for Liverpool — although statistics often mean little when these two sides collide.

Mo Salah, meanwhile, is just one goal or assist away from overtaking Wayne Rooney’s record for the most goal contributions at a single club — and he has an excellent history against City.

City may feel confident with their “weapons” back, but Liverpool have been sharpening theirs quietly over the last two matches.