Manchester City vs Liverpool: How City can and assert their dominance over title rivals
THREE points for either side could be crucial ahead of Manchester City’s home tie with Liverpool this Saturday.
Both sit in the top four after strong starts and a win for either team would put them top of the Premier League, at least until Manchester United play later in the day.
For City, the game also offers the chance to secure a first home win of the season, essential if Guardiola is going to turn the Etihad into a fortress from which to build his title campaign.
It’s very easy to look at this Liverpool side and feel worried.
The combination of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah have looked extremely potent in the opening games and the ruthless dispatch of Arsenal at Anfield proves this will be the biggest attacking threat Guardiola’s still-teething defensive lineup have faced so far.
Any mistake will be punished and it’ll need the likes of Kyle Walker and Ben Mendy to prove their lofty price tags if City are to keep Liverpool at bay.
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But City too pose a threat to a Liverpool side that have conceded six goals in their first five games and seemingly haven’t decided on their No1 after Simon Mignolet was suspiciously ‘rested’ two games into the league season.
I could see this game very easily turning into a thriller.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will almost certainly make his debut and be out to showcase his abilities and is a player City should be wary of.
But it’s the curiosity around Phillipe Coutinho that intrigues me most.
Yet to play for Liverpool this season after handing in his transfer request, I wonder if Klopp will be able to appease his brightest asset and bring him back into the fold or whether he’ll be left out again at the Etihad.
As a Manchester City fan, I’m certainly hoping for the latter.
Raheem Sterling will be missed on Saturday through suspension following his ludicrous second yellow card against Bournemouth and this could be a big loss.
While the popular consensus seems to find every opportunity to criticise one of England’s brightest young talents, the statistics show he was the only Premier League midfielder under 23 to register ten or more goals AND assists last season.
So far he’s netted twice this campaign and City will miss a player with a point to prove against Liverpool.
Ultimately it’s something of a must-win for City at home if they’re serious about winning the league this year.
But I fear Liverpool’s momentum and goal-scoring threat will be enough to secure them a point. I’ll predict a nervy 2-2.
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