Liverpool vs Manchester City Match Preview and Prediction

By John


 In what would usually be a potentially title-defining Premier League (PL) clash, this particular meeting between Liverpool and Manchester City sees these sides' fortunes further apart than they have been for years. Liverpool's tally of ten points after eight games (W2, D4, L2) is their worst PL start in a decade, although a thumping 7-1 victory against Rangers in midweek European action should have calmed some new-found nerves around Anfield.


The Reds did it the hard way to secure victory vs Rangers, yet again conceding first, something they've also done in ten of their last 12 PL outings. Losing only twice in that time may be the reassurance Jürgen Klopp's men need when they welcome the league's most frequent opening goal-getters in the shape of Manchester City, as should the fact that Liverpool are undefeated in their last 13 home matches when hosting the PL champions of the season prior (W7, D6).


This City team have been both an unstoppable force and an immovable object this PL campaign, being the highest scorers and sharing the best defensive record heading into the weekend (33 goals scored, nine conceded). City were surprisingly held by Copenhagen in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) in midweek (0-0), but there's certainly no surprise at their undefeated start to the PL campaign (W7, D2), which forms part of an incredible 21-game unbeaten run in the competition (W16, D5).


Manager Pep Guardiola may be wary of this wounded Liverpool side after losing the FA Cup semi-final and Community Shield in the last two H2Hs, but he's had the measure of Liverpool in the league. City make the short trip down the M62 on the back of five unbeaten PL H2HS (W2, D3) and now have the opportunity to extend that to six for the first time in City's PL history!


Players to watch: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah scored the fastest hat-trick in UCL history in midweek, setting him up well to continue his streak of six goal contributions in his last six PL clashes with City (G4, A2). Aiming to upstage him in what will be just his tenth career PL appearance, Erling Haaland could become the first City player to score in eight successive PL matches.


Hot stat: There's been goals in both halves in 14 of Liverpool's last 16 matches.

Fottennis Prediction: Liverpool 2 Manchester City 2

Comments

  1. AnonymousOctober 15, 2022 at 12:36 AM

    It’s going be a tough game despite Liverpool struggling form in the Epl,but a win for Liverpool against ranger will surely boost the moral ..in another side,city always find it difficult to win against Jurgen klopp’s side ..I see the game ending in draw

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousOctober 15, 2022 at 12:54 AM

    The way Liverpool have started the season, finishing in the top 4 would be an achievement. City have already won the league and if we could have had a title defining clash next week, but that stands cancelled for now.. I predict a pretty comfortable City win..

    ReplyDelete

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