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This Sunday sees one of the biggest Premier League games of the season, as reigning champions Liverpool face off with Manchester City at Anfield.
If Manchester City win this game, then they’ll extend their lead at the top of the table. But a victory for Liverpool could blow the title picture wide open again.
With this in mind, where will the match be decided? Here are five key battles that could determine the outcome of Liverpool vs. Manchester City tomorrow.
#1 Fabinho (Liverpool) vs. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City)
It’s hard to dispute that Liverpool’s weak point right now is their defense. Shorn of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Joel Matip, the Reds have been forced to blood unheralded youngsters, play midfielders out of position, and even sign two new center-backs in last-minute deals in order to fill their gaps.
This weekend’s game could see a debut for new signing Ozan Kabak. But with his lack of Premier League inexperience, Jurgen Klopp will likely be relying on Fabinho to keep things tight at the back for Liverpool.
If that’s the case, then he’ll be pitted most likely against Gabriel Jesus. While Pep Guardiola has often not bothered with a central striker this season in Sergio Aguero's absence, it feels like he’ll definitely deploy Jesus here.
After all, the Brazilian has scored three goals in his last four appearances for Manchester City.
If Fabinho can keep Jesus from getting a clear sight on goal, then Liverpool will stand a chance here. But if the Brazilian can net once again, City will likely come out on top.
#2 Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) vs. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
Perhaps more than any other Premier League team, Liverpool rely on their full-backs to deliver when it comes to attacking the opposition. And that makes right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold a very important player for them.
On Sunday, though, it’s likely that the England international will have to be sharp in terms of his defensive work, too.
Alexander-Arnold’s England colleague Raheem Sterling is likely to start for Manchester City on the left side of their three-pronged attack. And not only has Sterling been on great form recently – registering three goals and one assist in his last four games – but naturally, he’ll have a point to prove.
As a former Liverpool golden boy who’s now largely despised by Reds fans, Sterling, more than any other City player, will want to make his mark on tomorrow’s game.
And if he can take advantage of Alexander-Arnold’s sometimes suspect defending, then he could win the day – and the bragging rights – for his team.
#3 Thiago Alcantara (Liverpool) vs. Rodri (Manchester City)
Perhaps the most intriguing battle in this game will be the one that decides which side controls the game from midfield. Both sides are excellent in attack, but if one can’t gain any traction in the middle, then they’re likely to struggle.
That means that the battle between Spanish internationals Rodri and Thiago Alcantara is going to be fascinating to watch.
Largely thanks to the defense behind him shoring itself up, Rodri has enjoyed a much better sophomore campaign at the Etihad. He’s played in all but one of City’s games thus far and appears to finally be getting to grips with breaking up the opposition’s play while also performing as a metronomic passer.
In the form of Thiago, though, Rodri will be up against a player who is equally confident on the ball and one who will look to be far more progressive, too.
Thiago hasn’t provided the creative spark that Liverpool fans were expecting him to just yet, but he’s still settling into the side. And this weekend could be the big stage he needs to display his very best form.
If Thiago can dictate this match from the middle – cutting Rodri out of the game – then the pendulum will almost certainly swing in Liverpool’s favor.
#4 Joao Cancelo (Manchester City) vs. Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
By his own lofty standards, Sadio Mane hasn’t quite been at his best in the 2020-21 campaign. The Senegalese forward has still scored seven goals and registered three assists thus far. But those numbers pale in comparison to the ones he produced in the last two seasons.
If Liverpool are to win this game – and retain their Premier League title – then Mane simply has to start firing, taking some of the strain off top scorer Mohamed Salah.
This would be a perfect time for him to produce his best form, and if he’s to do so, then he’ll have to win his battle with Manchester City’s right-back.
That player is likely to be Joao Cancelo, who should be preferred to Kyle Walker based on current form and the fact that Walker had a stinker when he last faced Liverpool.
Cancelo is a largely offensive full-back – he’s been involved in more than one goal this season – but he’s also more than capable of shutting opposition attacks down, too.
But in Mane, he’ll be up against one of the Premier League’s most dangerous forwards. If the Senegal international can get the best of the Portuguese, then City’s defense may begin to wobble – allowing for a Liverpool win.
#5 Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) vs. Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City)
Without the injured Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City have had to look elsewhere for the majority of their creative spark this season. And although Phil Foden has also been fantastic, it’s Ilkay Gundogan who’s really stood out.
Thus far, the German international has made 16 appearances in the Premier League, scoring seven goals and registering one assists. It’s not De Bruyne levels, but he’s still looked like City’s dangerman in recent weeks.
So in the absence of Liverpool’s main holding midfielder Fabinho – who is likely to be deployed in defense – can Jordan Henderson keep him quiet?
Liverpool’s captain isn’t a classic breaker – he doesn’t possess the tough-tackling of Fabinho. However, you can guarantee he’ll run his heart out for the Reds, and that all-action style could ensure that City’s midfield attackers, most notably Gundogan, are given less room to operate in.
Because make no mistake, if Gundogan is given the room, he’ll do Liverpool untold damage – something that Henderson will be absolutely busting a gut to avoid.
