Liverpool will lock horns with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium looking to pick up all three points from this highly anticipated Premier League clash on Sunday evening. The Reds are currently playing some of their best football which was on full display earlier this week when they thrashed Atalanta by a 5-0 scoreline in the UEFA Champions League group stages.
The Merseyside giants have also won all of their past five matches across various competitions which should keep them in high spirits ahead of this weekend’s league encounter at Manchester. We can expect Jurgen Klopp to stick with his preferred 4-3-3 formation for this upcoming trip to the Etihad.
Let’s take a look at how Klopp should lineup his Liverpool side to earn maximum points on the road this weekend.
Start Matip Alongside Joe Gomez In Defence
Joel Matip was named on the bench in midweek which suggests that he will be fit and fresh for this game. The Cameroonian international should get the nod to start alongside Joe Gomez at the heart of the Reds backline as he is far more experienced and physically dominant than Nathaniel Phillips or Rhys Williams.
Matip’s inclusion will also help the Merseysiders pose a threat from the offensive set-pieces in the decisive end of the field.
Opt For The ‘Brexit Midfield’
Klopp would be wise to go with the renowned ‘Brexit midfield’ comprised of Georginio Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson and James Milner. The hard-working trio has got enough energy and dynamism in their tanks to stop Man City from dominating the fight in the middle of the park. Plus, they will also provide a lot of protection for the Liverpool backline by reducing the risk of being caught out of position by the opposition on the counter.
Deploy The In-Form Diogo Jota As Part Of The Front Three
Diogo Jota’s incredible hattrick versus Atalanta has given Klopp a real dilemma of whether to select the talented Portuguese or play his senior striker, Roberto Firmino up top. Going by form, it would be unwise for the Premier League champions to leave Jota out when he poses such a major threat in front of the opponent’s goal. In contrast, Firmino is not playing his best football at the moment, so Klopp should consider dropping him for this game in the hopes of getting a positive reaction from him after the international break.
Jota is also developing a good understanding with Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, and can also interchange positions with them during the course of the 90 minutes which is why he should be preferred ahead of Firmino this weekend.
