It’s going to be a must-win clash for Liverpool as they host Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City on Sunday evening at Anfield after facing a defeat to the 16th-placed Brighton & Hove Albion FC on Thursday.
BLAST FROM THE PAST:
These two English Premier League giants last time faced each other on 8th November, 2020 which ended in a stalemate. Gabriel Jesus scored for the hosts while Mo Salah converted from the spot for the visitors.
LIVERPOOL FC:
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool FC are certainly not having a great season so far. From the beginning of the season, injuries have been a matter of concern for them and now, after letting 3-points to slip off against 16th placed Brighton last Thursday, the gaffer has been in a worrying situation as the players might go low on morale which will be simply disastrous for facing the Sky Blues of the Etihad. Andy Gray has revealed that he can see Liverpool winning their next 12 Premier League games on the spin if they succeed in defeating Manchester City this evening. Jurgen Klopp’s side are gearing up for their biggest game of the season so far. Beating City at Anfield would see Liverpool move within four points of the Sky Blues today.
Defeat, however, would mean that the reigning Premier League champions are 10 points adrift of a Pep Guardiola side that still also have a game in hand. But victory is far from a foregone conclusion because the leaders have won their last 13 Premier League games in succession, though Gray claims that this Liverpool team can go on the same sort of winning streak if they pick up the three points today. He told Bein Sports yesterday, “I believe totally that Liverpool will be back. They’ll come back with a bang and they might well – if they win tomorrow – do what City have done and win 12 in a row.”
MANCHESTER CITY:
The Manchester outfit have won nine top-flight matches on the bounce to emerge as favourites for the domestic crown once again, with an improved defensive record one of the main reasons behind their recent resurgence. Pep Guardiola has paired Stones with £64 million ($88m) summer signing Dias at the back since early December, and they have complimented each other perfectly, helping City keep 10 clean sheets in their last 12 outings. This talismanic duo will be Pep’s trump card in their tie against Liverpool and they might end up leading the Blues to a victory which might add some more flavour to Liverpool’s miseries. Though former Liverpool and Man City legend, Robbie Fowler believes that the Reds’ challenge is already over for Man City regardless of whether or not they can beat their rivals at Anfield on Sunday evening.
PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR:
LIVERPOOL FC: Their Egyptian star, Mo Salah is definitely going to be their key man as he is the perfect guy to bolster their attack which he has been doing since his arrival at the Anfield back in 2017. With his pace, ability to surpass defenders and shooting accuracy, he always holds the position to turn the game’s fortune towards his side at any point during the play-time.
MANCHESTER CITY: In the absence of Belgian superstar, Kevin De Bruyne, all eyes will be on English star, Phil Foden as he will be taking up the role of the false-9 in the crucial tie against Liverpool on Sunday. The former U17 World Cup winner has even said, “Forget about United. Our trip to Manchester on Sunday is gonna be the most crucial and important game of the season for us.”
PROBABLE LINEUPS:
LIVERPOOL FC: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Kabak, Robertson; Henderson, Shaqiri, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane. (4-3-3)
MANCHESTER CITY: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Cancelo; Rodri, Gundogan, Bernardo; Foden, Sterling, Jesus. (4-3-3)
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