It’ll be the team effort which defines our chances of beating Premier League favourites Manchester City on Saturday evening, but our players all need to arrive individually, as they did against Chelsea three weeks back, if we’re to stand a chance.
Here’s five areas of the pitch and five match-ups we think will be most important.
SEE MORE:
Full Jurgen Klopp press-conference: German speaks Sturridge, Sterling, injuries… makes subtle complaint, too
Lucas Leiva’s ultimate 5-a-side team is the best we’ve ever seen
1) Jesus Navas v Alberto Moreno
The battle of the Spaniards down our left-hand side is going to be crucial. Moreno has a defensive error in him and Navas’s pace and directness down City’s wing will cause him problems. He’s had two weeks preparation for the game though as he wasn’t needed during international duty. Not only will he have to keep a lid on his attacking instincts, but he’ll need to be a rock at the back against the best attack in the country. When we’re in possession, Moreno’s speed provides us an excellent counter-attacking threat, though these moments must be chosen carefully.
2) Yaya Toure v Lucas Leiva
Yaya Toure will be City’s bombarding, driving central force, and it’ll be up to our in-form anchorman to negate his influence. David Silva, if fit, will drift around fluidly, but the giant Ivorian will provide Lucas a more obvious, central target. Lucas is a big game player. He regularly arrives and puts in key performances against the best players, and it’s when we only expect him to contribute defensively that he’s most effective. It’ll be the Brazilian’s job to steal possession and keep hold of it cleverly. He’s more than capable of doing exactly that.
3) Vincent Kompany v Christian Benteke
City’s captain isn’t 100%, but we can’t imagine he’d miss this one. And while Daniel Sturridge has returned to full training, we can’t see Jurgen Klopp starting anyone apart from Christian Benteke up top. On his day, our Belgian can bully anybody, including his international team-mate – especially if Kompany’s carrying a slight knock. Benteke can provide us a longer ball option if we’re under pressure, but his main task will be to bring Coutinho and Roberto Firmino into the game. If he scores a goal as good as the last time he was in Manchester, that’d be nice as well!
4) Fernandinho v Roberto Firmino
If Coutinho starts in a slightly free, inverted role on the left, Firmino should continue at no.10, despite not starting the Crystal Palace match. Fernadinho will be City’s deepest midfielder, charged with taking away his countryman’s time. Firmino’s capable of threading balls through to fellow attackers and playing intricate flicks and nutmegs – as well as shooting from range – although he’s yet to register a goal in England. This would be the perfect time to do it.
5) Aleksandr Kolarov v Nathaniel Clyne
This fullback battle will likely define who comes out on top down our right-hand side. City won’t play a wide left winger, meaning the Serbian will provide their width, while we similarly expect Clyne to be Liverpool’s only touchline hugger. Kolarov is a more impressive attacking force, so it’ll be up to Clyne to blunt him. Thankfully, that’s the Englishman’s strength, and he’s so far shone during tough away fixtures against good sides. Depending on who City play in attacking midfield, he’ll have to keep a close eye on Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva and Raheem Sterling as well of course.
