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Picture Credit: Premier League

Within a week's time, this is going to be another clash between these two giants. This time it is in the FA Cup semifinals. The stakes are even higher for this game as a Quadruple for Liverpool or a Treble for Manchester City is on the line.

Preview

Both teams faced each other last week and it was an overall enthralling match to watch. One witnessed end-to-end stuff in the game. Both teams went all out against each other and this week too nothing less is expected of them.

Both teams had tough games in the mid-week in the Champions League. While Manchester City managed to survive in a way leg against well-drilled Atletico Madrid and eventually progressed to the semi-finals of UCL on a 1-0 scoreline over the course of 2 legs, Benfica gave Liverpool a run for their money in the home leg and the match ended in a gruelling 3-3 draw. Having said that Liverpool too marched into the semifinals of the Champions League on aggerate 6-4

Team News

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp heavily rotated in their game against Benfica and all the starters who were rested in that game will come back in this high intense game against Manchester City. Both fullbacks Trent Arnold and Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, will be back in the starting line-up, as will Fabinho and Thiago in midfield, and Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah in the attack.

Predicted Line-up

Alisson, Trent Arnold, Konate, VVD, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago, Salah, Firmino, Luis Diaz

Manchester City

On the other hand, Manchester City was up against Atletico Madrid so there was no chance of any rotation on their end. That highly intense game cost City as two of their main players Kyle Walker and their ace playmaker Kevin De Bruyne were injured and are likely to miss this game.

Predicted Line-up

Ederson , Cancelo, Stones, Ruben Dias, Zinchenko, Rodri, Gundgoan, B.Silva, Mahrez, Jesus, Jack Grealish

Where will the match take place?

The Iconic Wembley Stadium in London.

Where can one watch FA Cup Semifinal between Liverpool and Manchester City?

Sony Ten Sports will broadcast the live telecast of the FA Cup Semi-finals match between Man City vs Liverpool.

Where can one live stream the Manchester City vs Liverpool?

Sony Liv will live stream the matches on its app.

Tactical 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 gegen-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

Rodri vs Liverpool Midfield

It's hard to say who makes up Liverpool's usual midfield trio for now, but Rodri will have to prevent them from evading City's press the whole day. He'll have assistance from his number eight teammates, but the Spaniard will be hoping to repeat his dominant performance in the game and retain control of what could be a hectic match - especially if either side is anxious for a result.

Score Prediction

Liverpool 3 – 2 Manchester City

Conclusion

All in all this clash promise to be a mouth-watering one. The stakes are even higher than last weekend's clash. A Quadruple and Treble are on the line for each team and such unique chances to achieve those respective landmarks don’t come easily. Thus both will have points to prove especially after their 2-2 draw in the last week's clash. It would be interesting to see who eventually comes out on top between these 2 giants.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the author’s point of view. They neither reflect the opinion of SportsTiger nor advise anyone to make any prediction based on this. SportsTiger does not assume any responsibility and liability for the same.