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The new Premier League season is seven match-days old and a number of high-profile games have already given the fans a lot to talk about. However, the game between Manchester City and Liverpool on Sunday represents a different proposition altogether. Despite the league being at a nascent stage, not many would argue with the clash being billed as a massive title-clinching six-pointer.
Last season, Manchester City left everyone in their wake, on their romp to the title. However, the only team the Cityzens found a hard nut to crack were their Merseyside rivals. Liverpool inflicted Manchester City’s first loss in the league while also sending them crashing out of the Champions League in the last eight.
The first league game between the pair ended 5-0 in City’s favour with Sadio Mane being controversially sent off. The reverse fixture at Anfield saw Liverpool out-play their rivals from the north with an exciting display of exhilarating football.
As the pair prepare to cross swords for the first time this season, both managers will have their task cut out, trying to devise a winning formula. Through the course of this article, we would look at three things that the Cityzens need to do in order to emerge triumphant at Anfield and acquire the advantage in an already neck and neck title race.
#1 Play out from the back with confidence
Manchester City and Pep Guardiola are known to be strong advocates of playing out from the back. After initial teething problems, Pep has gotten his City team dancing to his tunes.
At Anfield last season, Liverpool deployed an energetic high-press which left Manchester City shell-shocked. The Cityzens committed at least a couple of errors which led to goals with John Stones, in particular, being guilty. However, in order to win against Liverpool on Sunday, City need to play out from the back and do it with confidence.
The strategy of paying out from the back against a pressing side as adept at Liverpool is akin to playing with fire. However, if City is able to play around the press, the rewards are exponential.
If the Cityzens are successful in beating the press, they will outnumber Liverpool in midfield while also creating a superior numerical advantage in the final third. The success of their strategy to play out from the back would also dent Liverpool’s belief as their Plan A would’ve been successfully neutralised.
Pep has a penchant for not changing his style, whatever the opposition may be. He needs to do the same against Liverpool and adopt the high risk, high reward approach of playing out from the back.
The game of football is won by being brave and evidence shows that the Cityzens have no locus to err on the side of caution this time round. All we can do now is wait and watch if Pep can pull out another rabbit out of his hat.
#2 Play early balls towards the flanks
Liverpool’s defence has worked like a charm this season. Van Dijk and Joe Gomez have starred at the heart of the defence while Alexander-Arnold and Robertson have manned their flanks with efficiency. Additionally, Alisson has painted a solid picture between the sticks.
Though Liverpool don’t seem to have an obvious weakness defensively this term, Chelsea exploited the space Robertson and Alexander-Arnold left behind by releasing Hazard early.
Chelsea scored their goal courtesy a Hazard run in-behind Arnold after Kovacic and Jorginho were involved in some neat interplay. In the second half, Kante took advantage of the space Arnold left by quickly taking a free-kick and setting Hazard on his way. Unfortunately for Chelsea, Hazard couldn’t bury the chance and the score remained 1-0.
City have the likes of Sterling, Sane and Mahrez to exploit the space on the wings. At Anfield, one can expect Robertson and Arnold to play high up the pitch, which surely will leave space behind. Manchester City need to exploit this space which could act as a catalyst for their forays into Liverpool territory.
Though the aforementioned trio isn’t as talented as Hazard, they can surely ruffle feathers at Anfield.
Breaching the Liverpool defence has seemed like an insurmountable peak this season. However, Chelsea might just have exposed a slight chink in their armour. A chink which could catapult City to the perch of the table.
#3 Take the game to Liverpool
Manchester City paid the price last season for being too timid at Anfield. They weren’t up to their usual standards in the Champions League clash and waved Liverpool goodbye as they whistled past them into the semi-finals. If City is to avoid a fate similar to that dreadful night in April, they need to take the attack to Liverpool.
Liverpool have looked solid this term and have controlled the majority of games they’ve played. However, in the first half against Chelsea, the West London outfit had them rattled for a while. The Maurizio Sarri-led outfit controlled possession and attacked Liverpool. Though Liverpool gained control of the match after the lemon break, there were signs that Liverpool could be gotten at.
Manchester City have arguably more firepower in the attacking third than Chelsea. Thus, they need to be brave enough like they were in April and attack Liverpool right from the outset. With City attacking, Liverpool’s fullbacks won’t be able to go adventuring forward while also isolating their front three.
Pep has grown a reputation of coming up with masterstrokes on the biggest occasions. The game against Liverpool is another such opportunity for him to distinguish himself as the best manager on the planet. For him to have any chance of toppling Liverpool, he needs to throw caution to the wind and attack Liverpool with all his attacking might.
If City bring their attacking A game to the fore, Klopp could well have some serious questions to answer.
