Liverpool vs Manchester City
A game which showcases the very best in England – or if your eyebrows are already raised, it used to. Nonetheless, it’s the sort of fixture which forces your attention and intrigue irrespective of the colors of your flag.
Anfield will once again rise and welcome the Champions of England – but if its blood they are after it might not be as pleasant nor a respectful meeting, writes Ryan Liberty.
To Win
Liverpool 26/10
Draw 31/10
Man City 9/10
Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are currently 10th on the log with just 10 points from 10 games – a horrifying statistic to read of course. Now whilst I am no saint when it comes to respecting certain clubs in England, my irritation at this time stems from the narrative constantly being applied to Liverpool in the media.
This is a side who just a couple months ago were being touted as possibly the best team the league has seen. Jurgen Klopp’s ability was placed squarely on a pedestal after raising the league and Champions League title. The impenetrable nature of Liverpool was celebrated and compared to the best players throughout history.
May I also remind you that this is a club who between those comments and their current league position, have only lost Sadio Mane from their proverbial top drawer and replaced his with an 80 million plus attacking ‘beast.’
There can be no excuse for their horrible start to the season as far as I am concerned, and more criminal narrative of ‘when it clicks for Liverpool, we know how good they can be’ needs to die a painful death.
Anyway, back to the matter at hand…
Liverpool’s defensive instability was shown against Arsenal, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus completely dominated their final third and the Reds defence had no answer. Arsenal enjoyed 46 (yes, I invite you to read it again) touches in the Liverpool box last Sunday afternoon. That’s an insane statistic – in fact I wouldn’t blame you if you thought I was pulling your leg.
It illustrates – albeit in a small way – the ease and dominance Arsenal had in entering the final third and looking to make something happen. I fear for Liverpool here though, City have players who will have the same pace and ability as Arsenal’s forwards and go on to combine that with physicality and strength, which will all be held together by patience.
Manchester City
City are going to score a couple, aren’t they? I don’t mean to make throw-away comments but given the current consistent performances of both two sides – where on the field do Liverpool get a foothold? Where do they look to dominate?
Pep Guardiola’s side have become masters of managing games, and Pep himself seems happy to rest players and manipulate the outcome of games whilst also resting players given their stacked schedule.
How do you fault Manchester City, or what they have managed to do so far this season? They are unbeaten, they’ve got a certain attacking player upfront that continues to make a mockery of this brilliant league and at the risk of sounding uninspired with a touch of cliché – City are untouchable.
I know this writeup need only cover the events scheduled for Sunday evening, but is it too early to start asking about – or least postulate – the possibility of a quadruple? I mean that as a genuine question because the rotation Guardiola has available to this team is at times a little silly.
I would probably even go as far as to say that in all his time at City, he hasn’t had the squad available to him as he does this season. Of course, I include new signings but also in terms of keeping a group of players fit.
Predicted Line-ups:
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Thiago, Henderson; Diaz, Jota, Salah, Nunez.
Manchester City: Ederson; Akanji, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Rodri, Silva, Mahrez, Foden, Haaland.
Prediction:
Manchester City + Over 2.5 goals (29/20)
For me the prediction is a bit of a non-entity really. There is nothing to suggest this ends in any other way outside of a City win. However, I think City and over 2.5 goals is a bet which obviously has an increased odds available but with little risk.
City are capable of winning with more than two goals being scored in the game on their own, but Liverpool also have the ability to get on the goal sheet. You know, if it all clicks or something.
