Liverpool vs Manchester City Premier League match is the biggest fixture this weekend which is scheduled to kick off at 17:30 today, February 7, 2021. The league match which will take place at Anfield Stadium will go a long way to determine whether Liverpool are serious league contenders or merely another club battling for a Champions League spot.
If this match was played in November last year, he would have been a game against a Liverpool side that was looking like a team that would successfully defend the Premier League title the club won last season. But at this point, inconsistency especially since the beginning of 2021, has made the club a shadow of its former self.
Since the beginning of 2021, Liverpool have played 6 league matches in which they have recorded three defeats, two draws, and two wins. This inconsistency has taken them from the top of the league table to the 4th spot with 40 points in 22 league games.
Liverpool’s backwardness this season is blamed on the long term injuries their key players like Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Diogo Jota, and Naby Keita have been subjected to in most parts of the season.
The injuries left coach Jurgen Klopp who has been building his Premier League winning team since 2015, to return to the level of trying new formulas to keep the club going amid the numerous injuries.
On the other hand, Manchester City have had their share of injury worries over time but coach Pep Guardiola was able to find a way to manage it. The fact that Guardiola was able to manage the situation amid a tight schedule has made City return to the invincibility they have been enjoying.
For instance, since the beginning of this year, Manchester City are yet to drop a single point. They have played 7 league matches between January until now and they have won all of them.
This form has taken them straight to the top of the league table with 47 points in 21 league games. So far this season, City have recorded just 2 defeats and 5 draws. They have won 14 of their 21 league games.
Hence, Liverpool vs Manchester City league game today will be a meeting between an in-form team against a team struggling to gain momentum. And if City’s recent form is anything to go by, Pep Guardiola and his boys should leave the Anfield Stadium with the three maximum points.
Liverpool Premier League form: LDLWWL
Liverpool form (all competitions): DLLWWL
Manchester City Premier League form: WWWWWW
Manchester City form (all competitions): WWWWWW
Liverpool vs Manchester City: Team News
Jurgen Klopp will host Manchester City without the likes of Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez. He might also be without Diogo Jota and Naby Keita.
The good news is that Klopp has confirmed the availability of Sadio Mane, Alisson Becker, and Fabinho which means that it might not be an easy ride for City.
Due to injuries and match fitness issues, it will be very tempting for Jurgen Klopp to try out the club’s new signings Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies against City.
On the other hand, Pep Guardiola will visit the Anfield Stadium without some of his key players like Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne, who are still battling different degrees of injuries.
Besides them, Guardiola does not have any major injury worries, and his team is expected to continue with the excellent form the club has been enjoying in the club’s last 8 Premier League games.
Liverpool probable starting lineup:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Kabak, Fabinho, Robertson; Thiago, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane
Manchester City probable starting lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Cancelo; Bernardo, Rodri, Gundogan; Mahrez, Jesus, Sterling
Production: Liverpool 1 – Manchester City 2
⚽️ 𝑺 𝒖 𝒑 𝒆 𝒓 𝒔 𝒕 𝒓 𝒊 𝒌 𝒆 𝒔 ⚽️
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 6, 2021
We've netted plenty of memorable finishes against @ManCity 💫 #LIVMCI pic.twitter.com/qu1kXd6Vuf
