Man-City-vs-Liverpool-sports-tiger

Picture Credit: Premier League

It’s the Premier League Game week 32 and we got the biggest clash of the league so far. It's Liverpool who is visiting the blue side of Manchester. It's Manchester City against Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium. This Clash is often referred to as the clash of heavyweights.

Liverpool is in incredible form. They have won 10 matches on the trot in the Premier League, whereas the home team Manchester City has slipped up against Tottenham and Crystal Palace in recent weeks.

While Liverpool has the best attack in the league as they scored a whopping number of  77 goals, Manchester City has the best defensive record in the league. The Pep Guardiola side has leaked just 18 goals in the season till now.

Both teams have come back from a hard-fought win in the Champions League mid-week. Manchester City broke dead-tight Atletico Madrid's defence, while Liverpool showed their attacking qualities against the Portuguese opponents Benfica.

Team News

Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp has a fully fit squad to choose from for this epic clash. On the other hand, Manchester Boss Pep Guardiola is one major concern, his ace defender Ruben Dias is doubtful for this game.

Predicted Lineups

Liverpool

Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Mane, Jota

Man City

Ederson; Walker, Stones, Laporte, Cancelo; B. Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Foden, Grealish

Analysis

Manchester City

It's common knowledge to football fans all over the world that Pep Guardiola is one of the best tacticians in business. He employs such swift tactics that it becomes really difficult for opponents to grasp it. The Spanish coach goes with a typical 4-3-3 attacking formation with Ederson serving as a sweeper keeper.

The fullbacks play as inverted side backs to launch quick attacks and to give them numerical supremacy in attacking the third. This enables them to create a lot of chances. He has a workhorse in the form of Bernardo Silva who has the ability to dictate the midfield and attack. He builds the attacks by dropping deep in the midfield. One amazing aspect of Guardiola's city is that the Central midfielders occupy the left-alone spaces of the opposition CBs when their attackers drop deep.

Kevin De Bruyne acts as the ball provider to them running through both the wings. On the counter, Pep utilizes the pace of Foden as well as Mahrez. While on attack Manchester City uses a formation of 2-2-6 and 5-4-1 while defending with Rodri acting as a ball snatcher. Bernardo And KDB press high to get the balls high on the pitch. Pep also has the habit of using a false nine formation in crucial games.

Liverpool

Up against Guardiola is the German tactician Jürgen Klopp. In his years with the Merseyside club, he has made them play some beautiful football. Klopp uses the pressing against teams while not on the ball. It is one of the most unique strategies that aid his players in recovering the ball quickly. The coordination between the players is amazing which is required in zonal marking. Klopp's fullbacks play like typical wingers on the pitch.

Their wing play is a sight to behold with Trent and Robertson both sending awesome crosses into the box as well as key passes. Fabinho or Henderson plays the role of a typical ball snatcher while the two central midfielders act as ball carriers into the final third. Salah is a kind of inverted forward who receives balls on the flank and then cuts inside to create goal-scoring chances.

The pace of the attackers enables them to launch swift counterattacks against the flow of play. Klopp also makes the defenders play defence, splitting long balls. Jota is a poacher who doesn't maintain a constant position to avoid marking but slides in the free spaces well. While attacking, Liverpool forms a 2-3-5 formation which transforms quickly to 5-2-3 off the ball. Against Manchester City, Klopp will need to use his missing pieces well to thwart their danger.

Key Battle

Mohamed Salah vs Joao Cancelo

Salah has been Liverpool's best player on the pitch. Salah cuts inside from the right-hand side and either creates chances for others or he scores himself. Salah on the right-hand side of Liverpool's attack is a beast and the responsibility to stop that beast will be handed to Manchester City's best defender Joao Cancelo. Cancelo was originally Right back but the City manager got him converted to left-back and now he has become an excellent left-back with the defensive part of his game has gone to the next level.

All in All, the Salah vs Cancelo battle on Manchester City's left side of the pitch will be a key component as the result of the match will largely depend on who wins this battle.

Conclusion

All in all this clash has a lot on the line, The two teams' respective records, the fan's hopes, the manager's reputation but the most important thing on the line is The Premier Title itself. Both teams have just one point difference among them. If Manchester City wins this clash, they will have a 4 point advantage over Liverpool in the title race. If Liverpool wins the clash, they will occupy the first position on the table having a 2 point advantage over Manchester City.