Liverpool Vs Manchester City. The perfect game to end the Year with?
The Premier League probably saw its most astonishing story till date as relegation favourites Leicester City crumpled all myths and presumptions to roar their way to the title. The second half saw the arrival of managers like Pep Guardiola, Antonio Conte, Walter Mazzarri and we also saw Jose Mourinho bringing back the superstardom at Manchester United. These and a host of other instances which reaffirmed out belief in the English Premier League being the most entertaining league in the world.
Hence, a blockbuster clash between the No.2 and 3 teams in England, with managers who love a high-intensity and high pressing game with lots of stress on attack seems to be a just way to welcome a New Year with. City will be feeling the pressure of winning at a ground where they have only won once, that too back in 2003 and Liverpool will feel the pressure of living up to the tags of being the only team who have not lost at home to City, in the Sheikh Mansour era.
Let us take a look at the 3 key battles which will shape the outcome of the match-
JAMES MILNER VS RAHEEM STERLING
The former City man will be up against the former Liverpool boy. Both have been fairly successful after having swapped clubs and both have had tremendous seasons so far. Milner is the archetypal professional and he has performed admirably in his role as a left-back. Sterling has however been rejuvenated this season and will like to try and set the record straight after having had a miserable outing at Anfield last season. Unfairly targeted the youngster has to deal with Milner to continue in his rich vein of form he has been in lately.
FIRMINO VS SAGNA
In the absence of Phillipe Coutinho, it has been Firmino who has shifted to the left flank and will be operating from there. His bag of tricks and flicks was too much to handle for City last time and he will be fairly confident squaring up to the jittery City defence.
Sagna is likely to be at right-back and the duel between the French and Brazil International will be interesting to watch and any success in stifling Firmino will go a long way into keeping Liverpool quiet.
ADAM LALLANA VS FERNANDINHO
The English international has been tremendous ever since his return from injury. He has been lethal in front of goal and glided through defensive walls regularly with ease. He is probably playing the best football of his career and it will be up to Fernandinho to ensure that the former Southampton man does not have a go at the likes of Kolarov and Otamendi a whole lot. Fernandinho has been exemplary this season and has to carry on his good work in one of the toughest matches of the season.
