The Premier League is all set to return this weekend with Manchester Metropolis set to host Liverpool on the Etihad Stadium in what shall be a crunch top-of-the-table encounter on Saturday.
The Cityzens are main the desk by some extent over Jurgen Klopp’s Reds and this heated conflict will set the tone of each crew’s campaigns forward of the busy winter schedule. Pep Guardiola’s males are having fun with a document run at residence with 15 wins in as many video games on this calendar yr and can look to cement their place on the high of the Premier League.
Man Metropolis dropped two factors on their journey to Chelsea of their final sport earlier than the worldwide break which helped Liverpool acquire floor within the title chase. The Reds are second within the desk and can wish to blow open the title race with a win on the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester Metropolis Crew Information
Pep Guardiola revealed within the pre-match presser that Erling Haaland had educated with the crew forward of Liverpool’s go to to Man Metropolis. Haaland picked up a knock on worldwide responsibility with Norway, however Guardiola expects the striker to be match for the weekend’s large sport.
Ederson, Nathan Ake and Matheus Nunes additionally picked up knocks on worldwide responsibility and shall be assessed earlier than choosing his squad.
Predicted Manchester Metropolis lineup vs Liverpool (3-2-4-1)
Goalkeeper
Ederson is predicted to shake off a knock and begin in objective for Man Metropolis. The Brazilian should produce a high show to maintain a clear sheet towards Liverpool.
Defence
Man Metropolis are anticipated to line up in a 3-2-4-1 formation with Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol beginning forward of Ederson. Walker, Dias and Gvardiol will type Metropolis’s backline and look to maintain the Liverpool forwards at bay.
As there are query marks over Nathan Ake’s health, Guardiola is prone to begin Gvardiol on the left of a again three. In the meantime, Walker and Dias ought to take the precise and central roles in defence, respectively.
Midfield
As John Stones is out on the sidelines, Manuel Akanji will act because the anchor in midfield. It will enable Rodri to push just a few yards up the pitch and dictate the tempo of the sport. The duo should maintain issues tidy in the midst of the park of look to take management of the match as shortly as potential.
Julian Alvarez and Bernardo Silva will function because the superior No.10s, looking for gaps in between the Liverpool defence to use. Their creativity, motion and hyperlink up with the forwards shall be essential in carving open a rock-solid Liverpool backline.
Assault
Jeremy Doku may once more get the nod over Jack Grealish on the left flank, whereas Phil Foden hopes to trigger issues for the guests from the opposite wing. Doku’s explosive tempo and directness may very well be a fantastic weapon to maintain Trent Alexander-Arnold on his toes and cease him from inverting into central midfield.
Erling Haaland is predicted to be match for Saturday’s sport, and the Norwegian objective machine shall be eager to get on the scoresheet towards Klopp’s facet.
I’m Rohan Sengupta from one of many busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a eager curiosity in sports activities, soccer is one thing I merely can not dwell with out and writing, discussing and analyzing the sport is what I do 24*7.