'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Manchester City's defence has turned impregnable ever since Ruben Dias arrived at the club. The Portuguese defender has played six games for Manchester City so far, keeping three clean sheets and only conceding thrice during this period. Unsurprisingly, City are unbeaten in these six games (won four, drawn twice).
Prior to Dias' arrival, Manchester City conceded seven goals in four games - which show the impact he has had on Pep Guardiola's side - notwithstanding the player's ability on the ball. With City's attack uncharacteristically misfiring this season, their defence becomes all the more important as they seek to keep the Premier League's second-most prolific scorers quiet.
Dias will face up to one of Diogo Jota or Roberto Firmino, although given how high Manchester City's full-backs push up the pitch, he may have to deal with Sadio Mane too. The 23-year-old had fine games against Arsenal and Marseille, but Liverpool will be a step up. He will need to be at his best to ensure that Manchester City get a positive result from this game.
#2 Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City)
It's not often that one gets to witness a Pep Guardiola side struggling to score goals - only six teams have scored fewer than Manchester City in the 2020-21 Premier League season. That is because of the absence of both Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus through injuries.
Ferran Torres has performed quite well in the duo's absence, scoring three times in four games, but he is not a centre-forward. Jesus returned for Manchester City in the Champions League and to the surprise of no one, he scored.
The Brazilian has faced off against Liverpool four times, scoring thrice. With Liverpool's backline looking vulnerable in the absence of Virgil Van Dijk, Jesus could prosper at the Etihad.
#1 Diogo Jota (Liverpool)
Roberto Firmino has been involved in ten goals against Manchester City for Liverpool in the 14 games he's been a part of.
City are one of Firmino's favourite opponents, with Arsenal the only other team to face the brunt of the Brazilian's goal involvements. Thus it will not be a surprise to see Jurgen Klopp start Firmino in attack.
Yet, there's a catch: the emergence of Diogo Jota.
Diogo Jota has had a relatively short Liverpool career, but he's already impressed Reds fans so much that they are clamouring for the Portuguese player to start in place of Firmino against Manchester City.
Jota has already outscored Firmino this year despite playing way fewer games and minutes than the Brazilian.
He has looked dangerous even while coming on as a substitute, which he is likely to at the Etihad Stadium. Jota has never scored against Manchester City, but the Etihad would be a good place to start for the Portuguese international.
