Liverpool vs Manchester City – English Premier League – Preview

Posted on March 2, 2016 by Sreya

Liverpool hosts Manchester City at the Anfield on 2nd February, Wednesday in an English Premier League fixture, three days after Manuel Pellegrini’s side defeated Jurgen Klopp’s team at the Wembley to lift the Capital One Cup.

While Manchester City will be in an exuberant mood following their cup win on penalties after the score was tied at 1-1 after extra time, Liverpool will be eager to avenge their close loss. Manchester City are on the fourth position in league standings with forty seven points from twenty six matches. Liverpool sit on the eleventh place with thirty eight points from their ten wins.

Team News

Mamadou Sakho picked up an injury on Sunday and joins Martin Skrtel, Steven Caulker, Joseph Gomez, Danny Ings, Jordan Rossiter, Kevin Stewart and Lucas Leiva on the sidelines. Daniel Sturridge is unlikely to be risked after the forward struggled with fatigue during the later periods of the cup final.

Samir Nasri, Kevin de Bruyne and Fabian Delph are confirmed absentees for the visitors while Yaya Toure has been listed as a doubt.

Liverpool Possible Starting Lineup: Simon Mignolet, Nathaniel Clyne, Kolo Toure, Dejan Lovren, Alberto Moreno, James Milner, Emre Can, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho.

Manchester City Possible Starting Lineup: Joe Hart, Bacary Sagna, Nicolas Otamendi, Vincent Kompany, Gael Clichy, Fernando, Fernandinho, Jesus Navas, David Silva, Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero.

Thoughts From Both Camps

“The title race for us is not really interesting. That is not the best news, but that is the truth. If someone wants to be champion, he should be champion without our help, without our points and that’s the real champion. I don’t think about who can win the league… at the moment, there are a few teams, I only think about how we can win [on Wednesday].”

– Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool..

“If we are nine points behind the leader the range of error is less. If the maths say you can do it, you must always trust you can do it. I am sure our team will continue growing from now until the end of the season. When you have experience, it’s easier. When you see what happens over the seasons, you must trust.”

– Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City.

Contributor’s Pick

According to Head-2-Head statistics, the last six Premier League encounters between these two clubs have resulted in four wins for Liverpool and only two wins for Manchester City. Moreover, Liverpool are undefeated in their last fourteen home matches against Man City in all competitions.

It should be a closely contested affair, with a 2-2 draw being the most likely outcome.