Still on the hunt for Arsenal, Manchester City has no room for error against Liverpool, still fickle but determined to grab the Top 4.
In recent seasons, the clash between Manchester City and Liverpool has been synonymous with a fight for the English title, the two clubs having confiscated the crown for five years. However, the reunion of this spring has a very different taste. If they can still be crowned champions a third time in a row, the Citizens do not have their destiny in their hands and must deal with the position of the hunter, relegated as they are 8 lengths from Arsenal but with a match in hand. more to dispute than the Gunners.
Not really an advantage since it represents one more chance of stumbling and therefore an additional obstacle to overcome in the hope of a possible misstep by the Londoners. False step expected for long weeks but which does not come. City know it, they must not be distracted and concentrate on winning all the matches they have left to have no regrets. It starts with this meeting against the Reds. Not the most obvious at the end of the international break where the organizations of the players were tested. Thus, hit in the groin during the rally with Norway, Erling Haaland is uncertain. Author of 28 goals in 26 Premier League matches, the Norwegian is the lethal weapon of the Mancunians. If he said that his striker was in good shape, Guardiola could not ensure his presence at kick-off this Saturday. Also, the Spanish technician had to prepare a plan B.
This possible package could allow Julian Alvarez to continue to prove himself. The Argentinian world champion continues his apprenticeship but is chomping at the bit in the shadow of his ogre teammate. In just 15 appearances this season, he has always responded, scoring 11 times, including 5 in 6 league games. Enough to convince Guardiola to trust the native of Calchin in a match he knows is very difficult to negotiate. “Liverpool remain an exceptional team,” calmed the Skyblues technician.
A response that contrasts with the impression left by the Reds this season. Inconstant, capable of the worst as well as the best, Jürgen Klopp’s men are in a perilous situation. Sixth at the dawn of this 29th day and launched in a furious chase, here they are ahead of a particularly formidable week which will see them move to City, Chelsea before ending with the reception of Arsenal. “It’s very special,” savored the German manager in front of the press as excited by the challenge that awaits him and his family.
Excited yes but not unconscious. Klopp knows the urgency of his club and that he no longer has the right to make mistakes three weeks after a defeat at Bournemouth. “We are not stupid, our last game in Madrid was not good and neither was the one before at Bournemouth. We have to react, we have no choice,” he said lucidly. An expected reaction while several major elements are missing. Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo, Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Baj?eti? and Calvin Ramsay are all unavailable for the short trip to the Etihad Stadium where the Reds have not won the league for 6½ years. Salah was not yet wearing the red tunic but he will be keen to carry his partners to victory, he who has already scored three times against City in three meetings this season, to continue to believe in the top 4. “These next two months , we can achieve a lot or lose everything (…) The top 4 is our goal. We are not in the best position but it is playable”, estimates Klopp who hopes to see his team show the same face as during the clash against United where she had humiliated her rival (7-0). The uncertainty lies there for City against an opponent capable of anything, especially to annihilate his dreams of greatness.
The Premier League Matchday 29 match between Manchester City and Liverpool will kick off at 1:30 p.m. at the Etihad Stadium.
The clash between Manchester City and Liverpool will be broadcast exclusively by the Canal group and accessible on the Canal Foot channel, a newly created antenna dedicated exclusively, as its name suggests, to football.
The meeting between Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool will be available for streaming on the MyCanal platform.
BetClic : Manchester City : 1,55 / Nul : 4,35 / Liverpool : 5,40
Sports bets: Manchester City: 1.56 / Draw: 4.15 / Liverpool: 5.10
Winamax: Manchester City: 1.56 / Draw: 4.40 / Liverpool: 5.30
Manchester City: Ederson – Aké, Dias, Stones, Walker – Gündogan, Rodri – Grealish, B. Silva, Mahrez – Alvarez.
Liverpool : Alisson – Robertson, Van Dijk, Konaté, Alexander-Arnold – Elliott, Fabinho, Henderson – Jota, Firmino, Salah.
