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An email from Andy Flintoff: “One big difference between last year’s champions and this year’s Liverpool team that you’ve elided is the unfortunate loss of Diogo Jota, which has obviously affected the club both tactically and mentally. They haven’t really replaced that sort of player who could always find space whether coming in from the flanks or from deep.”
This is spot on. It’s impossible to quantify just how big an impact Jota’s death must have had on the players and staff.
Two very strong XIs, and no real surprises. But look at the difference in quality and experience between the two benches.
Liverpool: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Endo, Chiesa, Jones, Robertson, Nyoni, Ramsay, Ngumoha.
Manchester City: Trafford, Dias, Reijnders, Ake, Cherki, Gonzalez, Foden, Alleyne, Lewis.
Team news!
Liverpool 4-2-3-1: Alisson; Szoboszlai, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
Subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Endo, Chiesa, Jones, Robertson, Nyoni, Ramsay, Ngumoha.
Manchester City 4-3-3: Donnarumma; Matheus Nunes, Khusanov, Guehi Ait Nouri; Silva, Rodri, O’Reilly; Semenyo, Haaland, Marmoush.
Subs: Trafford, Dias, Reijnders, Ake, Cherki, Gonzalez, Foden, Alleyne, Lewis.
Referee: Craig Pawson
Preamble
Liverpool’s decline from Premier League champions to Premier League also rans is not due to any one problem. Injuries have played their part, new signings have taken their time to bed in, Mo Salah playing well within himself, plus Arne Slot has struggled to evolve this team with the same cohesion. The Dutchman admitted on Friday that Liverpool’s issues were no more apparent than in the reverse fixture of this one – a 3-0 defeat to City in November at the Etihad – and said the “the biggest difference between this season and last season … was “how much intensity [of lack thereof] we had in our pressing as a team”.
There are lots of other metrics to point to: goalkeeper Alisson is 21st amongst the 28 goalkeepers used across the Premier League for save percentage. Only four teams have conceded more goals from set pieces than the Reds. Be a problem tactically, or with fitness or motivation, Liverpool have often not been up to their high standards.
That said, Liverpool have been excellent in their last two matches, beating Qarabag 6-0 and Newcastle 4-1. Manchester City, though, are a different proposition, and need to win here to stay in the title race. City hate it at Anfield, winning just one of their past 22 visits (and losing 14) and any dropped points here will surely hand Arsenal the title. If City do win, it will be the club’s first league double over Liverpool since 1936-37.
It’s going to be a good’un.
Kick-off: 4.30pm GMT.
