PL Preview: Liverpool V. Manchester City

It has been one of the games a lot of people were waiting for. Manchester City, the team to beat following from their 100 points winning campaign last season, face-off against Liverpool, the team likely to challenge city for the Premier League this season on Sunday at Anfield.

Hyped as one of the games of the season with the attacking flair of both teams, the charisma of Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp and the world class players on both sides in front of a buoyant Anfield crowd. Both sides have started the season with both sides on 19 points from their seven games played in the league so far suggesting where the title challenge is this season. City are above just by goal difference making the game more important with the team that gets the three points will have the edge as the international break beckons.

Head-to-Head (League Only) 
Liverpool 4-3 Manchester City (January 2018)
Manchester City 5-0 Liverpool (September 2017)
Manchester City 1-1 Liverpool (March 2017)
Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City (December 2016)
Liverpool 3-0 Manchester City (March 2016)
Manchester City 1-4 Liverpool (November 2015)
Liverpool 2-1 Manchester City (March 2015)
Manchester City 3-1 Liverpool (August 2014)

In the last five games in the league between them, Liverpool have come out on top in three and all victories were at Anfield. Last season, they played each other four times playing in the quarter-finals of the Champions League were the Reds advanced beating the Citizens twice in both legs 5-1 on aggregate. Manchester City have found it difficult to beat Liverpool, particularly at Anfield.

City have lost 15 of their last 21 meetings at Anfield in the Premier League era conceding 44 goals and scoring 20 goals. They have only won just once at Anfield and that came in May 2003. For Liverpool, Anfield has become a fortress. Liverpool went unbeaten at home last season and have won in eight of their last nine matches at home and have conceded none.

There’s also the head-to-head record between Jürgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola. Klopp has the best head-to-head record against Pep from all the managers within the ‘top 6’ winning eight games against the Spaniard in fourteen games with Pep winning five.

Liverpool 
The Reds have been getting points despite not being at their best this season. Liverpool's defence which has been a problem in past seasons have been crucial so far with the performances of Virgil van Djik, Joe Gomez and Alisson. Liverpool's famed front three haven't been firing in all cylinders this season in particular Mohamed Salah who looks off form scoring just one in his last seven games in all competitions despite having the same start he had from last season.

Another concern for Liverpool is their midfield. It depends whether Naby Këita will play following an injury in mid-week despite being seen in training yesterday. Këita with his dynamism and runs in between the lines is vital for the Reds as they're more static without him. If fit, he'll probably take Jordan Henderson's place who's struggled to get in the team plus consistency. With more options from the bench like Shaqiri and Sturridge, Klopp has some decisions to make on how his team will on Sunday.

Possible XI: Alisson, Trent AA-Gomez-van Djik-Robertson, Wijnaldum-Henderson-Milner, Salah-Firmino-Mané (4-3-3)

Key Player: Virgil van Djik- Liverpool’s defence has been their catalyst for their fine start this season and van Djik is one of the reasons why. The Dutch international is colossus in defence as well as his ball-playing skills and leadership at the back. One of Liverpool’s most important players.

Manchester City 
The aim for Guardiola and City is retaining the league which has not been done in nine years. City, no surprise, is still a functioning juggernaut that's too difficult to stop. It will be interesting how Guardiola makes line-up with Kevin De Bryune and Benjamin Mendy both returning to training but is unlikely they'll play straight away with Ilkay Gündogan sustaining a hamstring in mid-week.

Plus, with his tendency of rotation, he could play Gabriel Jesus to play alongside Agüero to add more attacking threat possibly for Raheem Sterling who record at Anfield as a City player hasn't been good. The concern for Pep would be at left-back with Mendy just returning to training so either Danilo or Aymeric Laporte assigned to play there. With Danilo, nothing much changes. With Laporte, City can switch it to a back three giving the likes of Walker and Bernando Silva the responsibility of giving width and overload in midfield.

Possible XI: Ederson, Walker-Komapny-Otamendi-Laporte, Fernandinho-David Silva-Bernando Silva, Sterling-Agüero-Sané (4-3-3)

Key Player: Sergio Agüero- The Argentine is at his best scoring five in seven leagues games so far. Despite scoring five against the Reds, none of them have been at Anfield. He’ll certainly would want to end that duck on Sunday.

Prediction
Both sides are living up to their expectations from pre-season. There will be goals on Sunday with the attacking talent from both sides despite Liverpool’s attack not firing all cylinders this season. The slight edge would be City if Liverpool don’t play Këita as their midfield is more static without him. However, with all things considered, I see the game ending a draw 2-2.