It's the biggest game of the Premier League season so far! Liverpool, top of the league, seven points clear of third-placed Manchester City - and the latter will be looking to make that just four points!
We're trying to predict what Jurgen Klopp will do as he comes up against Pep Guardiola yet again...
GK – Alisson Becker
No point wasting your or my time debating who’s in net for Liverpool. Alisson is automatic to start and will be important with his ball distribution and shot stopping ability.
Expect Man City to press high up the pitch to get him to make a mistake on the ball if he lets his concentration levels drop.
LB – Andy Robertson
Another automatic pick on the left. The competition behind Robbo is light and he’s got a legitimate claim to be the best left back in England or arguably all of Europe.
He’ll work his socks off up and down the flank and force City’s forwards to be mindful of their defensive duties in order to prevent him from getting too much space to utilise his crossing ability.
CB – Virgil van Dijk
The third straight automatic selection. Regardless of whether Liverpool were healthy or not in defence, Virgil gets picked whenever he’s fit.
For me, he’s the unquestioned best defender in the world currently. It’ll be vital that he directs the defence diligently while they deal with the myriad weapons City have in the final third.
CB – Dejan Lovren
With nobody else to call upon in defence, Dejan also becomes an easy pick to partner Virgil in the centre.
Joe Gomez used the start of the season to show his improvement and cause Liverpool supporters to question whether Gomez or Lovren is the better defender, but it’s important to remember that Lovren has had a solid 2018 and is full on confidence right now.
RB – Trent Alexander-Arnold
The only reason Trent wouldn’t start is if Klopp opts to go with James Milner at full back and use another option in the midfield.
That isn’t going to happen though, and Trent will get the call here. There were doubts about how he’d play last year against City’s attacking threat and he came through better and more confident because of it.
Being a scouser, Trent gets up for matches of this magnitude and will help provide an emotional spark for the rest of the team.
MF – Georginio Wijnaldum
The midfield and formation are where things will be the most interesting. Because Klopp tends to play a 4-3-3 in matches against better sides, I expect he sticks with that system that allows the most space for his wide men and offers the potential for a more seamless counter attack.
Gini is in the form of his life currently and 100% must play this game. He’s got the awareness to cover in all areas defensively, provides the technical ability to drive forward through the midfield and has a work rate needed to push and press City’s midfield.
MF – Jordan Henderson
Because I think Klopp sticks with his most comfortable formation, I think he’ll play the midfield three that primary played in the team’s Champions League games.
Jordan Henderson will sit deepest of the three and help protect the defence while also using his long passing and vision to start Liverpool’s counter attack when they win possession back deep in their half.
MF – James Milner
Jurgen Klopp confirmed Milner is fit again after minor hamstring injury just in time for this huge game.
Milner’s unmatched experience, energy and intellect will be idea for a game of this magnitude.
It’s likely he’ll only play sixty to seventy minutes though before being subbed off for someone like Fabinho if Liverpool are protecting a lead or Xherdan Shaqiri if the game is getting away from them and they need to add another attacking option.
FW – Roberto Firmino
Liverpool have experimented with formations and who they play up top as the striker, but this game Bobby returns to his natural number nine position.
He was electric against Arsenal over the weekend and should carry that form into this match.
He’ll need to utilise his awareness of spacing to disrupt City’s back line and be the focal point of Liverpool’s pressing when they’re out of possession.
FW – Sadio Mane
Sadio Mane’s had a season where he’s consistently creating chances but is having trouble with his final touch letting him down.
Sadio’s always been streaky so don’t expect his struggles to last long before he starts burying his chances in quick succession.
He took his goal well against Arsenal through excellent linkup play with Mo Salah and will put City’s defenders under immense pressure with his pace, ability to change direction and general spontaneity and variety in his attacking.
FW – Mohamed Salah
Mo has done very well in his conversion to an out and out striker but is equally effective on the wing where he played the majority of last season.
Pep will be mindful of Salah’s pace and probably opt to have his fullbacks play more conservatively because of it.
If City do push forward by either choice or due to the score not being in their favour, it will only increase Salah’s desire to get in behind and use his lethal finishing to devastating effect.
