Manchester City-Liverpool is a match valid for the 29th day of the Premier League and is played on Saturday at 13:30: TV, predictions
In the last two seasons the object of desire for both was the title, but today only Manchester City are still in the fight to become champions of England. Pep Guardiola’s men and Jurgen Klopp’s are pursuing different objectives: for Liverpool, it would be a huge boost to finish in the top four after the tribulations of the middle of the tournament, when it looked like the Reds might actually be out of the running.
A match at the Etihad Stadium which, however, has lost none of its charm and is undoubtedly the best showcase to open the 29th day of the Premier League, which like the other leagues returns after a two-week break due to national team commitments. While waiting for the Citizens to recover the match against West Ham – two Saturdays ago they played in the FA Cup, overwhelming Burnley 6-0, the second goleada in the space of a few days after the 7-0 against Leipzig in the Champions League – the leading Arsenal wasted no time and moved up to +8 in the standings. A gap that can still be bridged, bearing in mind that Guardiola and his men have one game less, but if the objective is to catch up with the Gunners, who, unlike City from now on, will only be able to concentrate on the Premier League, missteps are no longer allowed. Haaland and his team-mates seem to have understood this and that is why in the last six matches they have always won, even with important gaps and barely conceding a goal. In the league, in front of their home crowd, Manchester City have almost made en plein: eleven wins, one draw and one defeat.
Haaland should grit his teeth
Only Arsenal have a better performance at home. Liverpool, who haven’t expelled the Etihad since back in 2015, are on notice. If, after 26 Premier League matches, the Reds are only sixth in the standings, at a stone’s throw from the two teams competing for first place, it is precisely because of a disastrous away performance, where they have had three wins and seven defeats.
Klopp and Guardiola
With everything out of the way, all Klopp has to do is try to limit the damage: there are seven points between fourth place and Liverpool, but it should not be forgotten that Tottenham have played two more matches than the Reds, and are therefore potentially still in the running. The German coach dreams of tripping City as in the first leg, which ended 1-0 to his team. The last time Liverpool won both league challenges against the Citizens was the 2015-16 season. If we stick to the last six comparisons between competitions, however, Klopp has often proved indigestible for rival Guardiola, who has only on one occasion managed to get the better of his colleague. In terms of line-ups, Haaland kept City fans apprehensive this week by not taking the field with his Norway side in the Euro 2024 qualifiers. The England champions’ monster slinger complained of a groin problem but is expected to grit his teeth for the Liverpool match. Nothing to do instead for Foden, who underwent emergency surgery for appendicitis. Klopp without Thiago Alcantara, Bajcetic, Gomez and Ramsay but it could be return time for Colombian Luis Diaz.
The Prediction
In six of the last seven matches – the only exception being the first leg – goals have been seen in abundance whenever Manchester City and Liverpool have clashed. The conditions seem to be in place for a spectacular match this time as well, but unlike the previous ones, there is a clear favourite. And it is Pep Guardiola’s team.
The Manchester City-Liverpool line-up probables
- MANCHESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Stones, Akanji, Ruben Dias, Aké; Rodri, Gundogan; Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Grealish; Haaland.
- LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, van Dijk, Robertson; Elliott, Fabinho, Henderson; Salah, Gakpo, Darwin Nunez.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-1
