Liverpool will clash heads with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday evening after being crowned as the new Premier League champions last week. The Reds will come into this clash on the back of a dominant 4-0 win over Crystal Palace at Anfield. In contrast, the Citizens suffered a disappointing 2-1 loss at the hands of Chelsea but returned to winning ways in the FA Cup after they saw off Newcastle United’s challenge by a 2-0 scoreline.
Both teams will fancy their chances of claiming all three points in this upcoming midweek encounter. Jurgen Klopp will stick with his favoured 4-3-3 formation and might name an unchanged team for this highly anticipated contest at Manchester.
Here are three tactical decisions Klopp should make to ensure a positive result versus Pep Guardiola’s men tomorrow.
Play Joe Gomez Alongside Virgil Van Dijk In The Absence Of Joel Matip
Joel Matip has been ruled out for the remainder of this campaign due to a toe injury he sustained against Everton last month. Hence, Klopp will have to decide whether to continue with Joe Gomez or give Dejan Lovren a chance to shine alongside Virgil Van Dijk in the coming weeks.
The Liverpool manager should think about playing Gomez in this league clash as he has formed an excellent understanding with Van Dijk at the heart of Klopp’s defence this season. Both of them are more than capable of keeping the likes of Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Riyad Mahrez in check on Thursday evening.
Focus On Exposing Of The Weaknesses Of The Man City Full-Backs Out On The Wide Areas
The Merseyside giants would be wise to focus on exploiting the weaknesses of the Man City full-backs by testing them defensively at every chance they can get with the pace of Andrew Robertson, Sadio Mane, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah out on the wide positions.
Benjamin Mendy has especially been poor of late whenever he has been stretched inside his half, so Salah will be expected to find a way to get in behind him if Guardiola decides to name the Frenchman at left-back. Kyle Walker can also expect a tough afternoon at home as Mane will fancy his chances of getting the better of him in this midweek showdown.
Introduce Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain As An Impact Substitute If Needed
Liverpool’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has proven himself to be an adequate squad player at Anfield this season. Klopp should once again introduce him off the bench as he has the potential to produce a goal-scoring performance based on his career record versus the Citizens.
The ex-Arsenal attacker has scored nine goals and provided two assists in 16 matches against Man City so far in his playing career which highlight just how much of a difference he can make if Klopp decides to play him at the Etihad tomorrow (stats via transfermarkt).
