Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool return to their domestic campaign on Thursday night as they renew their battle with Manchester City in the EFL Cup Round of 16 contest at the Etihad.
The cup holders will take on Pep Guardiola’s depleted side away from home turf as Klopp hopes for his returning players, who turned out in two mid season friendlies during their training camp in Dubai, to come out on top and clinch another memorable win over their arch rivals.
The last time these two sides met in the Premier League two months ago, it was Liverpool who emerged as the narrowest of winners in a 1-0 scoreline at Anfield with the game marred by unsavory scenes in the crowd and allegations of coin being thrown on the City boss Guardiola.
Liverpool’s displays in the four-team Dubai Super Cup during the World Cup break were a bag of mixed fortunes as the Reds lost 3-1 to Lyon before overcoming AC Milan in a 4-1 win although they were defeated in both penalty shootouts which followed the games for an extra point.
City, meanwhile, played just one game as the returning Erling Braut Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne scored each to hand their side a 2-0 win over Spanish club Girona with manager Guardiola sounding out concerns on the squad selection front due to his first-team regulars returning from their World Cup duty in small numbers.
WHEN & WHERE?
Date: Thursday 22 December 2022
Time: 7 PM GMT
Venue: Etihad Stadium
TEAM NEWS
Diogo Jota, Arthur and Luis Diaz remain the long-term injury worries for the visitors Liverpool with the latter set for an extended spell on the sidelines after a fresh setback in his recovery from a knee injury.
Jurgen Klopp has played down the chances of Virgil van Dijk returning to the XI for the City clash with the Dutch centre-back skippering his nation to the World Cup quarter-finals and playing every minute of the Oranges’ run to the last eight of the tournament.
French defender Ibrahima Konate will make his way back to Merseyside with a runners-up medal but is not expected to make the squad for the upcoming game.
KEY BATTLE
Erling Haaland vs Darwin Nunez
It could prove to be another showdown between the two big-money strikers who made the move to the Premier League in the summer – Manchester City talisman Erling Haaland and Liverpool’s dangerman Darwin Nunez.
Haaland has enjoyed a superb start to life in England since his transfer from Dortmund and while Nunez struggled early on in adapting to the style of play on Merseyside, the Uruguayan put out terrific displays for Jurgen Klopp’s side before heading into the World Cup.
With Liverpool unable to call upon the services of the injured Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota, Nunez will partner Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino up top on the pitch and will look to get the goals coming for his side.
Also Read – 5 players Liverpool can sign in January to provide cover for an injured Luis Diaz
MATCH PREDICTION
A tough contest to predict between two top teams who will be returning to their domestic campaign after a long break but will be hoping to advance through to the next round of the competition at the expense of the other.
