Liverpool welcome title rivals Manchester City to Anfield, in what promises to be yet another cracking game of Premier League football. The ‘modern-day’ rivalry has seen some of the biggest results recently – a 4-3 wins for the Reds in the 2017-18 season and a 2-1 win for the Manchester outfit last season.
Aguero finding the net after running past Pepe Reina near the by-line or Salah chipping Ederson from 40 yards out – the fixtures has had some world class goals.
Players apart, the game also sees two of the world’s most prolific Managers, Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, take centre stage.
The fixture has the potential to decide the outlook of the League this season as The Reds sit 6 points clear of their 2nd placed rivals. A City win would cut the lead to 3 points which would throw the League wide open but a Liverpool win on the other hand would make the Anfield giants in a very good spot for a League trophy which has eluded them for 30 years now.
The Citizens have a lot of injury problems to deal with as Sane, Ederson, Laporte, Zinchenko, David Silva and new signing Rodri are all set to miss the game. City are desperate to make amends to their Premier League form as defeats to Wolves and lowly Norwich City has seen them falling behind in the title race. They come into the game on the back of a 1-1 draw against Atlanta in the UEFA Champions League, where RB Kyle Walker was forced to go between the sticks as GK Claudio Bravo saw a straight red. Liverpool secured a 2-1 win at Anfield against Genk last time out.
Television pundits and legends alike, have all favoured the idea that this is ‘Liverpool’s season’ and probably the best time for them to have a showdown with Manchester City. Whether the Reds do manage to run through the Citizens or will Pep Guardiola throw a tactical masterclass to outwit the Reds, only time will tell!
PREDICTED LINE-UPS:
Liverpool have been quite lucky with injuries this season and with Alisson injured for a brief spell, Adrian came between the sticks to manage things really well. The Brazilian is now fit and started all the games apart from the League Cup match against Arsenal.
Sadio Mane has been in lightening form for the Reds recently and has been their biggest force in attack this season. The under-appreciated midfield of Henderson–Wijnaldum-Fabinho are expected to keep their place in the eleven.
UEFA Player of the Year Virgil Van Dijk is is the first name on the team sheets and has marshaled the back line pretty well. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, both have been chipping away with goals and assists and also have been doing their defensive duties efficiently.
Predicted Line-Ups:
Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Salah, Mane, Firmino 4-3-3
Manchester City had to substitute Ederson and replace him by Bravo in their Champions League game. The former has sustained a thigh problem and Pep reported that the Brazilian shotstopper is ‘out’ for Sunday’s showdown but doesn’t know the extent of his injury layoff.
Sergio Aguero is in fine form and already has 9 Premier League goals to his name this season. Kevin De Bruyne has come into his own this season and has been delivering fantastic performances all around.
City have defensive cracks with number one CB Ayemeric Laporte out injured. Fernandinho had to switch to the CB role as even John Stones was out for a brief time. David Silva would be missing the tie through a minor problem and Leroy Sane remains a long term absentee.
Predicted Line-Ups:
Bravo, Walker, Fernandinho, Stones, Mendy, De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Gundogan, Aguero, Sterling, Mahrez 4-3-3
Referee: Michael Oliver
Venue: Anfield, Liverpool (54074)
English Premier League, Round 12
Time: 16:30 GMT, Sunday
