5 bold Premier League predictions: Van Dijk leads Liverpool to victory
- by Thibaud Popelin
- in Monde
- — Jan 13, 2018
They head into the game off the back of two wins - Luton in the FA Cup and Stoke in the league - and they'll be up for making that three this weekend.
One of their biggest obstacles to doing so comes on Sunday, as they travel to Anfield to take on Liverpool.
It's this approach which Klopp will need his men to get right from the first whistle at Anfield, retaining and turning the ball over in order to deny City's ruthless midfield the chance to fall into their creative stride.
Given it'll be City's last true test against a top-six team (the club's final four matches are vs. Swansea, at West Ham, vs. Huddersfield, at Southampton), if Pep's charges make it this far unbeaten, it will have the feel of a final at Wembley Stadium.
That result levelled up the head-to-head between Klopp and Guardiola, sparring partners from their time in Germany, who both have five wins apiece (and a draw) from their 11 meetings.
"The red card changed the game".
The Dutchman is no miracle worker.
The table-toppers are go into arguably their toughest task of the season a massive fifteen points clear of neighbours Manchester United, who now occupy second spot and eighteen ahead of their opponents. Questions remain about his suitability for this Liverpool team.
Look closely enough and you begin to see there is sufficient evidence for Liverpool fans to be quietly confident ahead of Sunday.
Manchester City are without Gabriel Jesus who has damaged his knee and is expected to be out action for a month. He will surely be a strong contender for Player of the Year at the end of the season.
Yes, Man United have made some foolish mistakes recently and made simple games look hard, but this one has three points written all over it.
The former Sevilla man damaged tendons in his ankle back in December during a UEFA Champions League group stage game and has been on the sidelines ever since as the Reds embarked on an impressive festive period run of form.
Jose Mourinho has already proven his growing inclination for playing for draws at best, in such fixtures.
Any team willing to press and attack City have found success, and they have found the net.
"We knew that (it would be a tough game) because you can not knock out four teams from the Premier League without (being) well organised and having nice players to watch".
Nothing will ease the pain of losing Coutinho more than three points at home to the league's best team.
