It’s the last game of the year and what a game to finish the year off with Guardiola renewing his rivalry with Jurgen Klopp, as Manchester City visit Anfield in what could decide the fate of an already tight title race at the top of the Premier League.
Chelsea Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United won their respective games in the last game week meaning their position in the top 6 remained unchanged.
Is this a virtual six-pointer for Klopp and Guardiola? Indeed it is.
Liverpool and City both need to get maximum points in their race to keep the title hopes alive with Chelsea being six and seven points clear of their two nearest rivals. A slip up for any of these two teams could effectively end their title dreams despite the league having another 19 games to play.
Such has been Chelsea’s form and Conte’s hold of the “The Blues” that every game for the ones playing catch up is a virtual cup final.
Manchester City last won a league game at Anfield in 2001, but despite a poor record- City are definitely a no pushovers. Their last two wins over Arsenal and Hull City have put their hopes of a title push on track and with Guardiola watching Liverpool’s win over Stoke on Tuesday suggests the former Bayern and Barcelona coach isn’t going to take Liverpool lightly possibly trying to come up with a plan to stop “The Red Brigade” who have scored the most goals in the league this season.
For Manchester City, it has been a hit and miss this season, and one just won’t know which Manchester City team will turn up at Anfield.
Always an Intense game, an end to end stuff, a typical Merseyside vs Manchester game.
Though Liverpool’s biggest games of the season are against their bitterest rivals Manchester United and Everton, it’s their games against United’s cross-town rivals Manchester City that have been most etched in our memories.
When one talks about Liverpool vs Manchester City; one could talk about the Carling Cup Semi Final when Liverpool won the League Cup under Kenny Daglish or the exciting 2-2 draw at Anfield and at the Etihad with Gerrard scoring from 30 yards out, the Coutinho goals in the 3-2 win in the title-chasing season and the screamer past Joe Hart in the 2-1 win the season after that and most recently Liverpool’s encounter last season saw them trash the Citizens 3-0 at home just 3 days after losing the League Cup final to the same team on penalties.
This game has always been entertaining to watch for supporters and neutrals alike. A win for Liverpool could virtually give Jurgen Klopp’s team the wind in their sails to thwart Chelsea’s challenge, but a win for Manchester City and things could change dramatically at the top with Arsenal too interested.
