Introduction
It’s Liverpool vs Man City. This match promises to be a clash of the titans. Regardless of the outcome here, however, these two teams may be considered the most dominant competitors in Premier League history.
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Despite being incredibly solid defensively, these two teams sacrifice almost nothing in attack as they are both putting a ton of shots on target. Despite crafting their chances and defending in different ways, these two teams are strikingly similar in a statistical sense.
Why Should You be Watching?
An unbelievably tight rivalry featuring two of the best premier league teams ever assembled. This year, however, these teams have gone above in beyond in their dominance, aggressive style of play, and willingness to take chances and play exciting, beautiful football.
Build Up
Liverpool is in incredible form, having won 10 in a row in the English top-flight. On the other hand, the home team has slipped up against Tottenham and Crystal Palace in recent weeks.
While they will be coming up against the league’s best defense. Liverpool has proven to be pretty adept at keeping the ball away from their own net with five successive clean sheets in the Premier League. Liverpool is the best-attacking team in the league. The whopping tally of 77 goals is the highest in the league by far.
Man City has conceded just 18 goals in 30 Premier League games this season. This gives Manchester City the label of the division’s best defensive side this season.
Both sides head into the meeting off the back of Champions League quarter-final first-leg wins. Manchester City got the better of Atletico Madrid 1-0 while Liverpool ran out 3-1 winners over Benfica.
Head to Head
There have been some incredibly special games between these two sides in recent years. Both teams have got 5 wins for each team and 4 draws in the 14 meetings in the Klopp/Pep era.
In their 15th meeting as head coaches of these two teams, both Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp will be gunning to take the lead in the series, and the lead in the all-important title race.
Predicted Lineups
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp may have a full team to choose from heading into this game, too, with Fabinho the only uncertainty for the trip to Etihad Stadium. Manchester City has a strong squad at their disposal, too, though, with center-back Ruben Dias the only important absentee.
Liverpool
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Mane, Diaz
Man City
Ederson; Walker, Stones, Laporte, Cancelo; Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Foden, Sterling
Key battles
Sterling vs Arnold and Salah vs Cancelo
The right-back does like to venture forward at any possible opportunity and it does leave space between Liverpool’s left center-back – usually Joel Matip – and the touchline. Sterling’s rapid acceleration could be key in springboarding some quick City counterattacks and exploiting the space left by his fellow countryman.
That, however, does also mean Sterling will have to be on top of his game defensively. Alexander-Arnold has a league-high 11 assists this season and his almost Kevin De Bruyne-esque whipped crosses have proven a nightmare to deal with.
Rodri vs Liverpool’s midfield
It’s really tough to call who makes up Liverpool’s usual midfield trio at the moment, but Rodri will have to stop them from bypassing City’s press all afternoon. He’ll have help from his number eight teammates, but the Spaniard will look to replicate his imperious Anfield performance and keep control of what could turn out to be a pretty frantic contest – especially if either side is pushing for a result later in the game.
Conclusion
Playing on rival turf has certainly not phased the Merseyside giants in recent weeks either, with Liverpool winning eight in a row away from home across all competitions, but not since 2010 have they been able to keep a clean sheet at the Etihad Stadium.
If there is a victor on the blue side of Manchester this weekend, the Premier League trophy will be theirs to lose, but challenges aplenty will still present themselves amid City and Liverpool’s hectic schedules before the curtain closes on another fascinating title battle.
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