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As the Premier League returns to the scene, league leaders Liverpool will take on Manchester City in what will be their biggest match of the season so far. The Reds will host reigning champions Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday.
Liverpool are the only unbeaten team in the Premier League this season and have scored 15 goals in their first six games to stay on top of the league. They were held to a 3-3 draw against Brentford in their last league match and Jurgen Klopp's men will try to return to winning ways as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Manchester City are second with just a point separating them from Liverpool. City have started strongly but they are far from perfect despite winning against Chelsea in their last Premier League game.
Liverpool have won just one out of their last seven matches against Manchester City, with last season's 1-4 defeat at Anfield still a fresh wound. Both teams have dominated the English top flight in the last few campaigns, sharing the honors of the last four seasons.
With the strongest rivals set to lock horns, here are the top five predictions for Manchester City's visit to Liverpool.
#5 James Milner to feature at right-back for Liverpool
Liverpool's first-choice right-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold, is still sidelined with an injury. James Milner featured in Liverpool's midweek match against FC Porto, where they won 5-1. He will most likely again be deployed in place of the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold versus Manchester City.
Milner is known for his tenacity, especially in defensive positions. He knows how to hold his position, absorb pressure and break opponent's rhythm.
But his deliveries and overlapping runs are not at the same level as that of Trent Alexander-Arnold. So it remains to be seen how a defensively minded Milner will help out Liverpool's front three in attack.
#4 Jack Grealish to be Manchester City’s most important player
Manchester City's record signing, Jack Grealish, has proved himself to be a constant attacking threat in the Premier League. He has two goals and two assists to his name after signing for Manchester City this summer.
He was held quiet in City's last encounter vs Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. But the 26-year-old has settled into Pep Guardiola's side very quickly. He has bolstered runs on the flanks and a penchant for finding his teammates makes him a threat to reckon with.
With the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Grealish can make life difficult for Liverpool defenders and tilt the game in Manchester City's favour.
#3 Manchester City will not be able to stop Mo Salah from scoring
Mo Salah is the most in-form forward in the Premier League at the moment with the Egyptian forward sitting as the joint top scorer with five goals. Salah's red-hot form has propelled Liverpool into scoring 15 goals already. The 29-year-old has contributed to seven of them.
Salah has demonstrated his prowess in the UEFA Champions League too. He has already scored three goals in the Champions League; two of them coming against Porto in the midweek fixture. The forward's explosive run on the right and his chemistry with Firmino and Sadio Mane make him the most dangerous threat for Manchester City.
The Manchester City defense will face a stern test against Salah on Sunday and will have to work extra hard to keep the Egyptian at bay.
#2 Manchester City to struggle with their false 9
Manchester City have started the season well but their struggle with a proper striker has been constant. Pep Guardiola has been consistent with his use of false 9 but the absence of a world class goalscorer is still evident in the City squad.
Ferran Torres started well in the false 9 position early in the season but he has been scantly used by Pep. Raheem Sterling, who played in the false 9 role against Southampton and Paris Saint-Germain, was unable to help his team score a goal.
Even though Gabriel Jesus has looked the part at times, Pep has hardly played him in the striker position.
The only glaring flaw for Manchester City is finding a proper goalscorer, which might explain why they reportedly tried to bring Harry Kane into the team. The selection dilemma is a serious concern and they are likely to struggle in front of goal.
Liverpool will try their best to exploit it and keep a clean sheet like Paris Saint-Germain did in the Champions League.
#1 Liverpool to bag all three points at Anfield
It is very difficult to pick a favorite when the top two sides meet in the league. Both Liverpool and Manchester City are capable of beating any team in the world on their day and this promises to be a fairly even contest.
Despite missing key members like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Thiago, Liverpool will have the experience of versatile James Milner in their ranks. Meanwhile, Manchester City have experienced a recent dip in form and their 2-0 loss against the French giants tells a similar story.
We believe Manchester City will have trouble penetrating the defensive barriers against Liverpool with their false 9 setup. The Reds' attack, led by Mo Salah, could be decisive in getting that winning goal and bag three points for the hosts.
