Liverpool will travel to the Etihad Stadium to clash heads with Manchester City on Thursday night looking to continue their winning form in the English top-flight. The Reds had a flawless December which has helped them secure a healthy seven-point lead at the top of the league standings. However, Pep Guardiola’s men will go all out in search of a victory as they try to get themselves back into the fold in the race for the Premier League trophy.
Both clubs have some quality players in their ranks which makes this an unmissable game that could potentially decide the fate of the Premier League title.
Team News
Manchester City
Both Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan are major doubts for this contest at the Etihad Stadium while the likes of Claudio Bravo, Eliaquim Mangala, and Benjamin Mendy remain long-term casualties. Other than that, Guardiola has a full squad of players to choose from ahead of this crucial clash against the Reds of Merseyside.
Liverpool
James Milner and Alberto Moreno will both be in a race against time to be fit for this encounter. However, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Dominic Solanke can all be ruled out of this contest against the Citizens due to long-term injuries.
Predicted Lineups
Manchester City
Ederson; Kyle Walker, John Stones, Aymeric Laporte, Danilo; Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, David Silva; Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero, Leroy Sane
Liverpool
Alisson Becker; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dejan Lovren, Virgil Van Dijk, Andrew Robertson; Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Fabinho; Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane
Key Men
Manchester City
Both Sterling and Sane needs to have a good game if Man City are to come away with a win from this midweek clash. The defensive performance of Danilo and Walker will also be put under test on the wide areas, so they need to defend valiantly if Guardiola’s team are to stop Liverpool from causing havoc on the counter.
Liverpool
Klopp’s front three of Mane, Salah and Firmino are expected to cause some significant problems for the City defence, so all three of them needs to get their sharpness back in front of goal. Virgil Van Dijk will have a mammoth task of stopping the fluid, possession-based Man City attacks so it will be up to the Dutchman to show his class and produce the goods on Thursday night.
Odds
Manchester City win – 21/10
Draw – 29/10
Liverpool win – 5/2
