It is fair to say Manchester City had an eventful international break.The Premier League was thrown into turmoil following confirmation that City had been found guilty by an independent commission of all charges relating to breaches of the competition's financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, and the majority of charges in relation to their failure to co-operate with the league's investigation. City deny all the allegations and have appealed against the verdict.As difficult as it may be amid all the talk of hefty punishments, Enzo Maresca and his players must turn their attention back to on-pitch matters this weekend, when they are sure to receive a vociferous welcome from Liverpool's fans at Anfield.While City boast the only 100% record remaining in the Premier League this term, winning their first five games, Liverpool have two wins and three draws following their first five matches under Andoni Iraola.But who will come out on top when these two rivals face off on Sunday? Here, we use Opta insights to preview the standout fixture of the weekend. Club statement. https://t.co/yrJ8Z0A52Y https://t.co/0NP2k33JT9— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 29, 2026What's expected? The Opta supercomputer makes City narrow favourites to keep their winning start going, as they triumphed in 40.7% of our pre-match simulations.Liverpool took all three points in 34.6%, while the remaining 24.7% finished level – none of the last five meetings between the teams in all competitions have been drawn, since they shared the points in both Premier League matches in 2023-24.Liverpool lost home and away to City in the Premier League last season, which was the first time they had lost back-to-back league games against the Citizens since March 1937 (four in a row).And, following their 2-1 victory on Merseyside in February, City are looking to win on successive league visits to Liverpool for the first time since 1953.The away side has won two of the last three Premier League games between Liverpool and City, as many as in the previous 32 beforehand.The only time there have been back-to-back away wins in this Premier League fixture was back in 2002-03. Sunday's game will be the first between these sides in the Premier League to not feature Jurgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola in the dugouts since March 2015, when Brendan Rodgers' Reds beat Manuel Pellegrini's Citizens 2-1 at Anfield.Fabinho, Salah and Mane on target in 2019 #LIVMCI https://t.co/fcGAHSGR0k— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 7, 2026Can grudge-match atmosphere help Liverpool to first home win? Liverpool are six points off the pace being set by City, having earned nine points from their first five matches under Iraola, though they did beat Bournemouth 1-0 last time out.Iraola could become only the third permanent Liverpool manager to avoid defeat in each of his first six top-flight matches in charge, after Bob Paisley in 1974 and Joe Fagan in 1983.But the Spaniard is still seeking his first home Premier League victory in his new job, having overseen draws with Nottingham Forest and Fulham. https://t.co/9xl3idrcO3— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 8, 2026There have only been seven previous instances of Liverpool failing to win any of their first three home games in a league campaign, and just two since the First World War – in 1963-64 and 2012-13.The Reds have certainly shown signs of adapting to the high-octane style Iraola instilled at Bournemouth, having applied high-intensity pressures to 48.9% of their opponent's touches in the opposition's half in the Premier League this season – the highest rate of any side. Backed by a vocal home crowd, Iraola's side will likely look to press high and throw City off their game, though Liverpool will be without two of their key attackers due to injury.Iraola revealed on Friday that both Alexander Isak – whose four Premier League goals have only been bettered by Erling Haaland this season – and Cody Gakpo – who has six goal involvements in all competitions this term – are out after withdrawing from their national squads.In their absence, Bradley Barcola, Florian Wirtz, Victor Munoz and Rio Ngumoha will be Iraola's forward options.Maresca looks to create siege mentality City's last game – a topsy-turvy 5-3 win over Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium – must feel like a lifetime ago for their supporters.But Maresca cannot allow the fallout from the Premier League's verdict to affect his players, as he looks to accomplish a rare feat among managers in the English top flight. The Italian could become only the fourth manager to open a spell in charge of any club with six straight Premier League wins, after Carlo Ancelotti with Chelsea, Guardiola with City, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with Manchester United.Having served as part of Guardiola's backroom staff, he will be acutely aware of the reception City are likely to receive on Merseyside.Manchester City's next game is at Liverpool on Sunday, which might be the trickiest test possible. Away sides have a lower win percentage at Anfield (12.5%) than at any other stadium in Premier League history. https://t.co/6XGTExPrzH— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) October 8, 2026And in that atmosphere, cool heads will be key. As a team, City are completing 83% of their passes attempted while under high-intensity pressure in the competition this term, the best accuracy of any side.After starring for England in Declan Rice's absence during the international break, Elliot Anderson will look to dictate proceedings in midfield. Anderson leads all midfielders in the Premier League this season for line-breaking passes (105), progressive carries (64), and duel success rate (60.7%, minimum 50 contested).Having won at Anfield with Nottingham Forest in 2024-25 (1-0) and 2025-26 (3-0), Anderson could become the seventh player to win on his first three away starts against Liverpool in the Premier League, and the first since Martin Kelly with Crystal Palace between 2015 and 2017.City will have to tighten up defensively, as their figure of 7.25 expected goals against (xGA) in the Premier League this season has been bettered by eight other clubs, including a winless Bournemouth side and Forest, both of whom are in the bottom half.But going forward, they have been devastatingly clinical. In Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo, City boast the top two players for xG overperformance in the Premier League this term – Cherki has scored three goals from 0.72 xG (+2.28), while Semenyo has struck twice from 0.34 xG (+1.66).PLAYERS TO WATCHLiverpool – Florian WirtzWirtz made three appearances for Klopp's Germany side during the international break, scoring in their 2-0 win over Serbia, after Jamie Carragher said the attacking midfielder's performance against Bournemouth was "his poorest in a Liverpool shirt".In 403 minutes of Premier League action this season, Wirtz has tallied just 0.39 expected assists (xA) from nine chances created. He needs a breakout performance, preferably on a big stage, and there would be no better fixture than this one.Manchester City – Erling HaalandHaaland already leads this season's Premier League Golden Boot race, having five goals to his name after finding the net against Sunderland. That strike meant he has scored against all 25 teams he has faced in the English top flight.And, having failed to score on his first three Premier League trips to Anfield, the Norwegian finally found the net on the fourth attempt in February, hitting City's stoppage-time winner as they earned a 2-1 victory.The post The Numbers Game: Man City take perfect record to Anfield following tumultuous break appeared first on SoccerNews.