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Whatever the outcome on Thursday between Manchester City and Liverpool, both sets of fans of these two teams will have something to cheer about; knowing very well there will be another 17 matches to play for before the season ends.
Therefore, this match is not in any way the title decider. However, we cannot under-estimate the power of having the ‘bragging rights’ at this point of the season. Whoever wins, maybe, will shape the outcome of this much-anticipated title race. Nonetheless, history has it; winning or losing in such a big game can either boost the confidence in players or kill the morale of an entire team.
City head into this one being the underdogs; and rightly so, because of their mixed results this season, having lost to both Leicester and Chelsea already. On the other hand, Liverpool has been in fine form, collecting a total of 54 points in 20 games.
The Reds have not lost a single match in the Premier League, a statistic that should indeed worry the defending champions. Therefore, this means Liverpool head into this game as clear favourites. However, in football, anything is possible.
Remaining unbeaten in the league after 20 games is not something unusual; in fact, Chelsea has done it before, and even Manchester city did it last season. Remember records are there to be broken. Pep Guardiola is a born winner, and who knows? Manchester city might cause an upset here tonight against the Reds.
What people fail to understand is the quality in this Manchester city side. There are a few players who are talented enough and capable of beating any team in the world. Here is a list of Manchester city players that can hurt Liverpool on Thursday night and break their unbeaten record in the league this season.
1. Kevin De Bruyne
Jurgen Klopp has made it clear that he is very much aware of the threat Kevin De Bruyne could pose to his team on Thursday night. Yes, Klopp is right. The Belgium international can hurt any team in the world right now. His technical ability and football intelligence are beyond words.
The 27-year-old Belgium is a world-class if we can use the correct words to describe him. He is one of those players that see things other players cannot see in a game of football. Yeah, he is that good. In other words, De Bruyne is a world-class player and Liverpool should put a keen eye on him tonight.
2. David Silva
At 32, many would suggest that this player is past his peak, but don’t get confused by his diminutive stature or age; David Silva is one talented footballer. The Spain international will forever remain as one of the best players to ever play for Manchester City.
The Spain international has played an essential role in transforming City from being the noisy neighbours to becoming viable title contenders in the last decade. Despite the physicality of English football, it has not hindered Silva’s development into becoming one of the best players in the Premier League.
Watching him play brings a lot of enjoyment to the fans with his fluidity, flair, technical awareness and an eye for goal. One of his biggest strengths is his vision. His creativity allows him to make smart passes by keeping hold of the ball on his feet. Silva hardly loses possession.
We will have to wait and see how the likes of Fabinho and Virgil Van Dijk will be able to cope with Silva tonight. If Klopp’s players allow Silva too much room to pick out crucial passes, we might see a different score-line here today at the Etihad.
3. Sergio Aguero
Whenever good players are mentioned in any football debate, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo names come to play, but people forget all about Sergio Aguero. The Argentinean striker is a legend at Manchester city.
What disturbs the most is the lack of glowing articles for one of the most prolific strikers in the Premier League. Actually, City talisman stands as being the all-time goal scorer in their history. His goal to game ratio is undisputable.
At 30 years of age, we know Aguero is not getting any younger, however, we cannot rule out the quality he possesses. Tonight, his presence up front should not be taken lightly by Liverpool; giving him any bit of space should not be an option for the away team.
Final thoughts
The aforementioned Manchester city players have the quality needed to punish Klopp’s men; therefore, how Liverpool approach this game is so much crucial. In that regard, whichever team scores first will determine the outcome of this game.
If Liverpool becomes the first team to get on the score sheet away from home, Manchester City's response will play a big part in the final outcome of this game. In such a big game like this, a tiny mistake by one team may lead to severe consequences on the final score.
