Sunday’s Etihad showdown sees the table-toppers Manchester City play hosts to the second-placed Liverpool in a crunch Premier League outing for both teams.
The weekend outing is poised to give a clear indication of which of the side emerges as the frontrunners in the race for the top flight crown with just a point separating both at the summit of the league table.
Liverpool head into the forthcoming contest on the back of a convincing 3-1 win over Benfica in the first leg of the Champions League quarter final with Jurgen Klopp’s men gearing up for the Etihad outing in style.
Goals from Ibrahima Konate, Sadio Mane and new boy Luis Diaz proved enough to get the better of an inspired Benfica side who responded through dangerman Nunez but were unable to salvage something from their home fixture.
Klopp’s Merseysiders have been on top form of late and an 11-game winning run gives them all the confidence they need on the road to the defending champions Manchester City come Sunday.
City were victorious as well the last time they stepped out on the pitch midweek against Spanish giants Atletico Madrid whose defensive tactics employed under Diogo Simeone failed to prevent Pep Guardiola’s side from clinching a narrow 1-0 win courtesy of playmaker Kevin de Bruyne’s second half strike.
WHEN & WHERE?
Next up… ⏳#MCILIV pic.twitter.com/5b3t2YVtZa
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 7, 2022
Date: Sunday 10 April 2022
Time: 3:30 PM GMT
Venue: Etihad Stadium
TEAM NEWS
Jurgen Klopp has no fresh concerns on the injury front following the Benfica win midweek with the Liverpool boss in line to choose from a fully fit squad.
The returning Naby Keita, who made the first XI against Benfica last time around, was a delight to watch in the centre of the park but could be poised to make way for the skipper Jordan Henderson.
At the back, Ibrahima Konate is expected to drop down to the bench for Joel Matip’s inclusion in the XI to partner Virgil van Dijk in the heart of the four-man defence.
KEY BATTLE
Kevin de Bruyne vs Mohamed Salah
Manchester City had to rely upon Belgian maestro Kevin de Bruyne to get them over the finish line earlier in the week against an emboldened Atletico outfit with a 70th-minute effort from the 30-year-old proving enough to claim the 1-0 win on home turf.
Mohamed Salah, meanwhile, has been unable to showcase his brilliant best out there on the pitch in recent weeks with two patchy showings on the trot against Watford and Benfica posing questions over the Egyptian’s form amidst his contract impasse at Liverpool.
Sunday’s contest at the Etihad would see De Bruyne go up against Salah with either player key to their side’s chances of securing the three points and making a giant stride towards the Premier League title.
MATCH PREDICTION
Both teams look geared up for the crunch league meeting this weekend but we predict Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side to emerge winners in what should be a closely contested affair.
Manchester City 1-2 Liverpool
