Manchester City vs Liverpool: Match preview, betting tips and predictions

  The difference! Diogo Jota wheeling away after scoring the winner for Liverpool against Westham last weekend. (Photo credit: Premierleague...

 

The difference! Diogo Jota wheeling away after scoring the winner for Liverpool against Westham last weekend. (Photo credit: Premierleague.com)

Manchester City vs Liverpool
Etihad
5:30pm

 

This game is coming at the right time, with United heading to the other side of Merseyside, City with a win here will prove they still have the title at their sights and hand us a season to relish.

 

Manchester City haven’t been at their imperial best since the start of the season, they haven’t really imposed themselves on any of the teams they’ve played and they have dropped points at some instances where many expected them to win comfortably with the 5-2 home loss to Leicester in mind.

 

Liverpool are on top of the log, the top six looks strange but as Pep Guardiola rightly said, things are going to start taking shape from now on but some certain teams won’t agree to that narrative.

 

Liverpool haven’t been colorful neither, they have picked narrow wins, nicked late wins and dropped points strangely too, they were hammered 7-2 by Aston Villa and couldn’t get past Everton, at this stage last season they were nine points ahead of the rest, can they retain the title?

 

This fixture will excite the neutrals and delight those waiting for a draw, both teams will definitely score, both have defensive issues and Rhys Williams will be tested in the heart of defense for Liverpool; Joel Matip could be available for this but is he ready for this baptism?

 

Kevin De Bruyne is back to form, he assisted twice in Europe in midweek and for sure will offer something different, Sergio Aguero’s fitness is under scrutiny but Gabriel Jesus is back, he was on target in the 3-0 victory on Tuesday.

 

Diogo Jota hit a hatrick against Atalanta on Wednesday, bringing the question to Jurgen Klopp again of whether it’s time to bench Roberto Firminho and hand the Portuguese a start in the league, he merits it and seems like the perfect fit to the trinity.

 

Sadio Mane and Mo salah need to step up, they were the reason Liverpool was unplayable last season, they definitely lack the support they got from the inverted triangular midfield with players struggling for form and Fabinho ruled out for long, one would wonder if the rigors of last season is catching up already.

 

Manchester City have it all to prove, this will be won and lost in the middle, City looks stronger in that department but they will have to be weary of the quick counter attack by Liverpool, the team sheet is key to this but one thing will happen, both teams will score.

 

Verdict: Over 2.5 goals and both to score