In what might be the most intriguing fixture of the Premier League season, Manchester City play hosts to Liverpool this weekend. The battle between Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola has been a great spectacle to watch over the years as two giants of the league clash against one another. Both the sides are without some key players, but Klopp is worse in such a scenario, without the likes of Fabinho and Van Dijk.
Liverpool are favourites to win the Premier League this season as well even without their main men. The mentality of the Liverpool players is elite at the moment as they always tend to win in the last moments of the game. But facing Manchester City is a different prospect altogether as Pep Guardiola is one of the best managers in the world.
Let us now have a look at how Jurgen Klopp might set up his Liverpool side against Pep’s Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
THE 4-2-3-1
With Joel Matip and Naby Keita back in contention to play in the Premier League, Klopp will be very happy to face Guardiola in the weekend. The centre-back issue was supposed to be a huge problem for Liverpool, but somehow Klopp managed without the likes of Matip, Van Dijk and Fabinho. Henderson and Wijnaldum have done very well in the midfield as they have protected the defence very well, allowing the full-backs to bomb forward and create play.
In the midfield, the inclusion of Keita will bring Liverpool much more drive and impetus going forward. If fully fit, Klopp will surely play him as he types a dimension into the Liverpool squad. Diogo Jota has done brilliantly well in his first season with the Reds and is very likely to replace Bobby Firmino in the side. But Klopp might also stick with Firmino, as he drops to the midfield and helps Liverpool create play.
Against City, the likes of Salah and Mane have almost always been very successful looking at the past records. The Mancunians haven’t been solid defensively, which will be encouraging for Salah and Mane.
THE 4-3-3
The 4-3-3 formation is the only other formation used by the Reds under Jurgen Klopp, who has taken gegenpressing to another level. The system changes a little bit from the 4-2-3-1 but the personnel are very likely to remain the same. In such a system, Klopp plays with only one holding midfielder, which might be risky against Manchester City, who play very narrow and pack the midfielder.
Special emphasis will be put on Andy Robertson and Alexander-Arnold, as Liverpool’s full-backs play high up the pitch to help in the attacking half of Liverpool. But both the defenders will have to be very careful against Pep’s side as he will also push his full-backs and wingers up the pitch, for exploiting the space left by their compatriots. Salah and Mane are a surety in the sides, but the centre-forward spot will be unpredictable.
The game will surely be enthralling and an end-to-end game with two of the best managers in football taking on each other.
