Liverpool need to win against the league leaders if they are to maintain real hope of retaining their title
Liverpool and Manchester City meet this afternoon in a match that could go a long way to deciding the eventual destination of this season’s Premier League trophy.
Alisson, Fabinho and Sadio Mane have returned for Jurgen Klopp’s men after their dismal 1-0 defeat against Brighton in midweek, while Pep Guardiola is still without Sergio Aguero and Kevin de Bruyne, both of whom missed their 2-0 win against Burnley.
The visitors head to Anfield with a seven-point advantage and a game in hand. A win today would leave fourth-placed Liverpool 10 points off the pace with only 15 games to play.
Looking ahead to this afternoon’s game, Klopp told the club’s official matchday programme: “We must view every opponent as standing in our way – having the points that we want – not just one.
“There will no doubt have been big focus on the contrasting forms going into this game. City are flying. We have had mixed fortunes. It is what it is and it won’t matter when the whistle goes and the ball starts to roll.
“The key message for us today is to simply attack the contest with all we have. The only team to worry about and concentrate upon is ourselves. Focus on being us. That’s always been enough for me and always will be with these incredible men.”
Quoted by City’s official website, Guardiola said: “I don’t care about whether the opponents are worried.
“I am pretty sure they are not because every manager and every club when they play against a team always they believe they can beat them.
“It is about maintaining and improving. To improve our game and of course, to maintain our results. That is what I want from my team.
“If we make a bad a game or the opponent is better, we will congratulate them – like we have since I’ve been in charge – and think of the next one, to improve on the previous one and try to win the next one. This is the only way.
“They are the champions and I know Liverpool will be there. I don’t have any doubts.
“We have to prepare, be ready and be aggressive, with courage to win the game.”
LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Henderson, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Jones, Thiago, Mane, Salah, Firmino
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Adrian, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Kabak, Tsimikas, Shaqiri, Origi, Phillips, N.Williams
MANCHESTER CITY STARTING XI: Ederson, Cancelo, Dias, Stones, Zinchenko, Rodrigo, Gundogan, Bernardo, Mahrez, Foden, Sterling
MANCHESTER CITY SUBS: Steffen, Jesus, Laporte, Torres, Mendy, Fernandinho, Garcia, Doyle, Bernabe
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