Confirmed #LFC team to face @ManCity: Mignolet, Clyne, Matip, Klavan, Milner, Can, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Mane, Coutinho, Firmino.
Man City XI: Caballero, Fernandinho, Stones, Otamendi, Clichy, Yaya Touré, Sané, De Bruyne, Silva (C), Sterling, Agüero
Manchester City are coming off of a heart breaking 3-1 loss in the Champions League that saw then get knocked out 6-6 on away goals. Now out of the Champions League, City sit third in the Premier League, level on points with Tottenham only behind on goal difference. City sit 10 points off Chelsea and six points inside the Champions League spots.
Liverpool have struggled all of 2017, but they have won three of their last four Premier League matches, including wins against Arsenal and Tottenham, so they’ll be hoping their 2017 struggles are over. Liverpool sit one point behind City and five inside the Champions League spots, but they’ve played one more game than everyone else and two more than Arsenal so the result could be crucial for their Champions League hopes. They have been strong against the other top teams, with five wins and four draws against the rest of the top six this season, so they’ll be hoping that form continues.
TEAM NEWS
Manchester City have a mostly fit side, but will be without Gabriel Jesus and Ilkay Gundogan as they both recover from their long term injuries, according to Physioroom.com.
Liverpool have a few more fitness issues to deal with. They’ll be without Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge, who are both due back around April first, according to Physioroom.com. Both Divock Origi and Roberto Firmino will undergo late fitness tests, while Danny Ings is out with a long term injury, according to Physioroom.com.
KEY PLAYERS
MANCHESTER CITY: KEVIN DE BRUYNE
Manchester City have a loaded attack, but Kevin De Bruyne is arguably the crown jewel of it. After a fantastic debut season in Manchester, the Belgian has taken another step up this year on both sides of the ball. He has been able to play a bit deeper at times, while still scoring four Premier League goals and assisting 11 more. City will need everyone at their top level on Sunday, but De Bruyne could prove to be the difference maker.
LIVERPOOL: SADIO MANE
Liverpool’s season kind of fell apart when Sadie Mane went away for the African Cup of Nations. Liverpool haven’t fully recovered since, but he is still producing, especially against the big teams. In the recent wins against Arsenal and Tottenham Mane was the difference maker, registering three goals and one assist. He’ll look to make the difference once again against City.
Liverpool have been fantastic against teams that don’t cede possession this season and will provide a huge challenge to this City side. Both have leaky defenses and fantastic attacks, but that could lead to both teams taking a more conservative approach than usual, as was the case when these two sides met at Anfield.
Man City v Liverpool Live Match Thread
posted on 19/3/17
Perhaps Clyne needs some of the Mignolet treatment and TAA has been knocking on the door anyhow.
posted on 19/3/17
Don't agree at all there.
I thought Clyne was good, particularly second half.
Sane is dynamite in one v ones. It's his thing. Clyne coped as well as most do.
We were lucky that City weren't clinical, but then it's not really luck, as City have been wasteful all season.
posted on 19/3/17
Thought we defended really well today both individually and as a team as it goes. I don't think Klopp wants a out and out DM anyway.
posted on 19/3/17
It's strange, even Aguero is not as clinical as everybody knows he can be. Perhaps a lack of confidence due to the start they had.
posted on 19/3/17
Not really concerned too much about him in the final third, h gives us width against the poor teams and as you'd expect he was getting forward less away to a big team.
His defending is the main issue. We got battered from wide positions today, he's got to do better to stop crosses come into the area.
posted on 19/3/17
Thought Sterling had Milner a few times in the first half and KDB had him for their goal. There were a couple of occasions Sane had Clyne down the right. But we coped well in the whole.
posted on 19/3/17
I'm going to say it now but I think Sane is going to be amazing. His balance and athleticism remind me of proper Ronaldo (big claim I know) but I thought Clyne did well. TAA would have got destroyed.
posted on 19/3/17
It's the final 3rd where Clyne has to do better to stay our first choice right back.
Compare what he can do to Pisczek in Klopps Dortmund side and it's not in the same league. Clyne runs all day and supports well but he is no threat for goals or assists and that's criminal in a Klopp team for the full backs frankly.
Pisczek got himself 49 assists and 16 goals in 250 games for Dortmund.
Clyne has 5 assists and 2 goals in 84 games for us.
Now we don't have to copy his Dortmund side completely but the basics are the same. Clyne has to improve or he will lose that spot.
posted on 19/3/17
Sane is class, pure and simple. Not did very well, considering. He ran himself into the deck in the process.
JimmyTheRed
posted on 19/3/17
Surprised in our 2 games v Man City there's only been 3 goals!