Liverpool host Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday evening, and the Reds will look to bounce back with a win at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp’s men have been quite mediocre this season, and they are 11th in the Premier League table with just 10 points from eight matches. Liverpool will be desperate to get their season back on track,, and a win over Manchester City could do wonders for their confidence.
The Reds will need to finish in the top four in order to attract the kind of players they want to sign and match up to the ambitions of their current stars as well. They cannot keep dropping points and Sunday’s game is a massive opportunity for them to get things right.
Liverpool have not lost five of their last six matches against Manchester City and they have beaten Pep Guardiola’s side in the last two meetings between the two sides.
Meanwhile, Manchester City will look to close in on the top spot with a win. They are second in the table with 23 points right now. The champions have been in red-hot form recently and they will fancy their chances against a struggling Liverpool side.
Team News & Tactics
Liverpool
We’re LIVE with Jürgen Klopp ahead of Sunday’s home @PremierLeague meeting with Manchester City 🎙#LIVMCI
https://t.co/Ir0mQAcCGv— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 14, 2022
Jurgen Klopp has altered his tactics in recent matches and the Reds have shown some improvement. They are expected to continue in the 4-4-2 system that has been used in the last few outings.
Liverpool are without the services of Naby Keita, Joel Matip, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Arthur Melo, Luis Diaz and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for this weekend. Although Ox has returned to training, he might not be fit for this one.
Meanwhile, Alexander-Arnold, Matip and Diaz picked up injuries in the last league game against Arsenal. Alisson Becker is set to continue in goal here. The Brazilian has done well this season despite Liverpool’s struggles.
Joe Gomez is set to deputise as the right-back in absence of Alexander-Arnold. Gomez is a better defender compared to Alexander-Arnold and the Reds will need that quality against a team like City. Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk will start as the centre-backs and Andrew Robertson recently returned from injury and the Scottish international will start as the left-back.
In the midfield, Thiago Alcantara and Fabinho will start as the central midfielders. Thiago will be expected to control the tempo of the game and Fabinho will be tasked with winning the ball and disrupting Manchester City’s build-up play.
Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota are expected to line up as the wingers on the right and left flank respectively. Salah scored a hattrick during the midweek and he will look to announce his return to form with another sparkling display against City.
Roberto Firmino is in impressive goalscoring form and he will lead the line alongside club-record signing Darwin Nunez.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Alisson; Gomez, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Salah, Thiago, Fabinho, Jota; Firmino, Nunez
Manchester City
The Premier League champions are without John Stones, Kalvin Phillips and Kyle Walker due to injuries. They are likely to continue with their favoured 4-2-3-1 setup at Anfield. Pep Guardiola knows he has the players to punish the Reds on the counter and the City will look to hurt the home side during the transitions.
Ederson Moraes will start in goal for the visitors. In the defence, Joao Cancelo will start in his natural role as the right back. Manuel Akanji and Aymeric Laporte will start as the centre-backs, and Nathan Ake could be deployed as a makeshift left back.
A tough test ahead at Anfield 💪#ManCity | @okx pic.twitter.com/vw0PJ2sAnW
— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 14, 2022
Rodri and Ilkay Gundogan are likely to start in the double pivot where the Spaniard will look to win the ball back for counters and Gundogan will look to drive his team forward with his composure on the ball and technicality.
In the attacking midfield roles, Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne are certain starters and will be responsible for creating the bulk of chances for their teammates. Meanwhile, Bernardo Silva could start as well and he will double down as the third central midfielder when needed and provide some width from the left as well.
Erling Haaland is currently the best striker in the world and he will lead the line for Manchester City. The Norwegian will look to dismantle the Liverpool defence and grind out a priceless win at Anfield for his side.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Cancelo, Akanji, Laporte, Ake; Rodri, Gundogan; Foden, De Bruyne, Silva; Haaland
Key Stats
- Liverpool are undefeated in their last 27 home matches in the Premier League.
- Liverpool have scored at least two goals in 17 of their last 21 home matches in the Premier League.
- Manchester City have scored at least 2 goals in 17 of their last 18 matches in the Premier League.
- Manchester City are undefeated in their last 22 away matches in the Premier League.
- Liverpool are undefeated in 23 of their last 24 home matches against Manchester City in all competitions. The Reds have scored at least two goals in their last four matches against Manchester City in all competitions.
Player to Watch
Erling Haaland
Congratulations, @ErlingHaaland 👏
Your PFA @VertuMotors Premier League Fans' Player of the Month for September 🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/558k466Wqz
— Professional Footballers' Association (@PFA) October 14, 2022
The Norwegian striker has scored 20 goals in 13 games for Manchester City across all competitions. Haaland has already managed to become a nightmare for Premier League defenders, and he will look to wreak havoc at Anfield on Sunday.
Virgil van Dijk and the Liverpool defence have not been at their best, and Haaland could punish the Reds at the back. He is our man to watch, and it will be a major surprise if he fails to find the net on Sunday.
Prediction
Liverpool 1-3 Manchester City
Liverpool are formidable at home and have not lost a league game at Anfield in their last 27 outings. However, they are a side lacking in confidence and momentum right now. Furthermore, they are up against a team who are ruthless and have the tools to dismantle any team in the world.
Erling Haaland is likely to have a field day here, and a comprehensive away win is on the cards. The Hard Tackle predicts Manchester City to run away with a big win to keep pace with Arsenal, who will look to beat Leeds United on Sunday.
