Manchester City eyes history as hostilities rekindled with Liverpool in the Ethiad

They've created a rivalry of their own, and albeit Manchester City has been more consistent, Liverpool have surely returned to the good days since the start of the season.

Now first and second in the league, City and Liverpool resume hostility in the early kickoff on Saturday.

In recent times, the meetings between these two have been the most anticipated in the Premier League not only because of the club but the rivalry that has also risen between the manager of each team.

Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have come a long way and have both become two of the best in the job. Their rivalry started far back decades ago when Pep Guardiola joined Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga while Klopp was in charge at Dortmund.

Aside from the two managers, the players in these teams also stand out in English football. In the last six seasons, winners of the Player of the Season in the Premier League have come from either club.

Till date, they still maintain the status as even so far this campaign, Alisson Becker (Goalkeeper), Virgil van Dijk (Defender), Rodri (Midfielder), Mohamed Salah (Winger) and Erling Haaland (Striker) have been second to none in their respective positions.

It is always a tricky match that could go either ways and in their last 14 league meetings, no side has won back-to-back games in this fixture.

Liverpool were the last side to do so, but that was long ago in December 2016, when they won five in a row, starting with a 2-1 win in Anfield in March 2015.

For Manchester City, one would have to go back to November 1947 for the last time they won consecutive league games against the visitors on Saturday.

Good news for Pep Guardiola's side is that they have been able to starve Liverpool a win at the Ethiad in the last seven times the Reds has visited, with the host winning four times and drawing three others.

City, having won the previous meeting between the two, which came in the Ethiad last season, they are presented a glorious chance to rewrite history at home by beating Liverpool back-to-back for the first time in the new league era and for the first time in 76 years.

It will not be easy though, as Liverpool has become as good as they were in their best years under Jurgen Klopp with important players like Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander Arnold and others returning to top form.

Interesting match-up 

Erling Haaland against Virgil van Dijk 

As much as the Norwegian can be a handful, it is also almost as easy to nullify him from games. However, this will be very difficult to do with City playing at home. Hence, it promises to be a busy afternoon for them in Manchester.

With City expected to dominate much of the possession, it is good news for Haaland, but with the current form of Van Dijk, it is a clash of beasts that will be great spectacle.

Van Dijk has up his game since the start of the season and has so far stood out amongst peers. 

According to Squawka, Van Dijk has the highest duel success amongst players to have contested at least ten in the league, has made zero leading to shots, has been dispossessed zero times and hasn't been dribbled past so far.

Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah against Manchester City defenders

Albeit his finishing isn't any good, the Uruguayan does have what it takes to get himself in promising positions time and again, which will make him very difficult to deal with.

When he bursts into space, no one in the City defense can catch up, except for Kyle Walker, who can also be vulnerable, as evidence of late.

He has been in red-hot form this season, and on the back of a good outing with his country during the international break, his confidence level must be at the very top heading into the match this weekend.

No question at all about Mohamed Salah; best player in the Premier League this season. He must be delighted that his teammates at the club are also returning to top form.

Salah has eleven goals and five assists in 19 games against City. He is surely a massive threat to the Cityzens and their chances on the matchday.

His form of late has also been sensational. The Egyptian has 16 goals and five assists across all competitions, of which 10 goals and four assists have come in the Premier League.

A City defense that chipped in four in the Stamford Bridge last time out should be ready to withstand firepower.

Coping with Trent Alexander Arnold inversion

Speaking ahead of the game, Pep Guardiola said: "I think we are all friends. Time goes forward, eight years wth Liverpool and not the same team as the start. They are similar (with us).

Trent Alexander Arnold can play inside now but the ideas are similar. Always they've been our best rivals."Top club, top team, looking forward to it."

The tactical part of this clash will be down to Trent Alexander Arnold but City has more advantage given they play at home and have explosive wingers to deal with Arnold.

This season, following Jurgen Klopp's adoption of a style that allows the Englishman to invert to midfielder from right-back, Liverpool have been a much better side, and their buildup has been more fluid.

His shortcomings at the back have also been expertly dealt with by the two CBs. The return to the top form of VVD has also been vital. This has seen Liverpool conceded the joint fewest League goals so far (10, level with Arsenal).

However, against either of Jeremy Doku or Jack Grealish, and the host expected to enjoy more of the possession, it could render Arnold ineffective. Should Liverpool chooose to build from the back, City's attack nearly leave anyone out in their press, and chances from turnovers in the final third their rarely pass.

It could be a long afternoon for Arnold given his weakness in duels, and Pep will most likely call on Doku, who is a duel monster due to his trick and pace.

Reunion of friends 

Aside from international teammates who will be going head to head, Erling Haaland and Dominik Szoboszlai will face-off against each other for the first time in the Premier League.

Both players were teammates at Red Bull Salzburg in Austria between January and December 2019 and enjoyed a great time together.

When asked of his friendship with Erling Haaland, new Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai said;

"When I came to sign, it was not official yet, I sent him a picture with a Liverpool shirt. He was like: ‘Oh! What’s happening?’  

And I said: ‘Yeah! We’re going to see each other. And he said ‘Congratulations, and the Premier League is crazy!’"

Though both have faced each other in the Bundesliga, when Szoboszlai was with RB Leipzig and Haaland in Dortmund. However, it can not be compared to the rivalry between Liverpool and City and in the 'crazy' Premier League.

Injuries and suspensions

Ederson, Nathan Ake, Sergio Gomez, Rodri, and Erling Haaland all resume back to training for Manchester City after they all had injury problems during the international break.

Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones, and Mateo Kovacic will not feature due to one injury or the other. City has no suspended player for this clash.

For Liverpool, the trip to the Ethiad will come too soon for the likes of Stefan Bajectic and Curtis Jones, while Andrew Robertson and Thiago Alcantara remain on the sideline with long-term injuries.

Expected lineups

Manchester City; 3-2-4-1 : Ederson, Josko Gvardiol, Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, Kyle Walker, Rodri Hernandez, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, Julian Alvarez, Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland.

Liverpool; 4-3-3 : Alisson, Kostas Tsmikas, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander Arnold, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah.

Predicted outcome

Early kickoffs in the Premier League are known to rarely produce many goals and to back this up, Manchester City has conceded only three goals at home in the league so far, only Liverpool (2) has conceded less.

Last time Liverpool failed to score in any game was April, when they were forced to goalless draw at Chelsea.

A 1-0 victory for Manchester City would be a safe bet.

Hassan Afolabi