Manchester City vs Liverpool – English Premier League – Preview

Posted on November 21, 2015 by Sreya

Manchester City host Liverpool at the Etihad in an evening fixture of the English Premier League on Saturday, 21st November. Manchester City have to win against Liverpool to maintain their first position in the league standings with twenty six points so far. Liverpool are in tenth place with seventeen points.

Team News

Samir Nasri, Vincent Kompany and Wilfried Bony are confirmed absentees for Manchester City. Manuel Pellegrini’s side also have a number of players listed as doubtful with Pablo Zabaleta, Fabian Delph and David Silva unlikely to start. Sergio Aguero is back in contention though.

Jurgen Klopp has a lot of injury concerns as well with Mamadou Sakho, Jon Flanagan, Jordan Henderson, Joseph Gomez, Danny Ings and Jordan Rossiter ruled out of tomorrow’s match. Daniel Sturridge has been adjudged fit and could start for the first time in two months, after missing Liverpool’s last seven games.

Manchester City Possible Starting Lineup: Joe Hart, Bacary Sagna, Nicolas Otamendi, Elaquim Mangala, Aleksandar Kolarov, Yaya Toure, Fernandinho, Jesus Navas, Kevin de Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero.

Liverpool Possible Starting Lineup: Simon Mignolet, Nathaniel Clyne, Martin Skrtl, Dejan Lovren, Alberto Moreno, Lucas Leiva, Emre Can, Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho, James Milner, Christian Benteke.

Thoughts From Both Camps

“One of the most important things in important games is to have a cold mind, not a cold heart but a cold mind. It’s so important and I hope we can do it.”

– Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City.

“Manchester City have a really good team, but it’s not important for this one game if Sterling played here last year and does well, or [Kevin] De Bruyne or Yaya Toure. It’s much more important to think about our game so they cannot play their best football and we can play our best football. That’s what I’m interested in.”

– Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool.

Contributor’s Pick

According to Head-2-Head statistics, Manchester City have won 27% of its matches against Liverpool. It would be an extremely difficult away trip for the Kops as Manchester City have won twelve of their last thirteen games at home, in which they have scored a minimum of two goals. In their last four matches against Liverpool in all competitions, Manchester City have scored at least two goals.

Liverpool have won only once in their last five matches, even losing to Crystal Palace before the international break. Based on current form, Manchester City should win comfortably with a 2-0 scoreline being the most probable one.