LIVERPOOL VS MANCHESTER CITY: PREVIEW

One of the fixtures of the season - one that never disappoints! Two teams who only care about attacking = guaranteed goals. Liverpool vs Manchester City.

Liverpool come off the back of a loss in Naples in midweek, where Jurgen Klopp's side had their hearts broken by a late Napoli goal on Wednesday in the Champions League.

The Reds had their first set of points taken off them last Saturday, when Chelsea held them to a 1-1 draw, with Daniel Sturridge's late equaliser.

Manchester City are in excellent form, beating Hoffenheim in midweek (2-1) and comfortably beating Brighton 2-0 last Saturday afternoon.

City produced a perfect month in September, winning all of their games, scoring bucket loads whilst doing it.

Source: Getty Images

VIEW FROM THE HOME DUGOUT

Klopp was questioned by the press about the underwhelming form of his forward Mohamed Salah this season, with the PFA Player of the Year struggling to reach the standards he set last season.

But the Liverpool manager isn't worried about Salah's slow start to the season and says he is "completely relaxed".

"Obviously, expectations changed, that's normal," Klopp explained. "He set completely new standards last year (for scoring), but for all the rest (of his game) it's what he did last year.

"Nobody expected 10 goals after five, six or seven games, so it was a nice surprise. Each striker could write a book about these moments when you score without knowing exactly how it works, how you did it, with each ball in a perfect way and stuff like that.

"It's so rare when it happens like that; 98 per cent of a striker's career is the hardest work and only two per cent is the kind of easy going stuff.

"It's all good. The only thing that has massively changed is the kind of questions you ask," Klopp continued.

"Last year, I don't think he was a big story from the beginning to talk about. Then it started to become a slightly positive story, 'wow, not bad' and then 'oh, even better' and stuff like that. It was all a surprise."

VIEW FROM THE AWAY DUGOUT

Despite Pep Guardiola's bad record against Liverpool in recent times, the Spaniard has insisted that his City side will attack the Reds at Anfield.

"The big difference is how many times you lose the ball," Guardiola said about Liverpool's 'Gegenpressing'.

"In Champions League games, they didn't lose the ball. These guys are so dangerous and connect between them - Mane and Salah love running behind and they do it really well.

"I always believed and feel in my game we should attack better and be protected when we lose the ball.

"I don't expect what happened in Napoli to happen at Anfield (referring to Liverpool failing to register a shot).

"We have to defend, but not in the approach play because it's boring and we have to be ourselves. In this type of game, we must to be ourselves."

TEAM NEWS

Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita was stretchered off against Napoli in midweek after having a back spasm, but he could feature on Sunday evening.

Adam Lallana isn't too far away from returning to the Reds' side, but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a long-term absentee.

For Manchester City, Kevin de Bruyne and Benjamin Mendy have both trained with the team this week and could be in contention to feature at Anfield.

Ilkay Gundogan will face a late fitness test after suffering a hamstring injury and Fabian Delph is still out.

STATS

Liverpool are unbeaten in 17 home games against Manchester City in all competitions... winning 12 and drawing five.

The last time City won at Anfield was back in May 2003 when the Citizens came out 2-1 victors.

There will be goals on Sunday with last season's Premier League games between the two, producing 12 goals - 5-0 to Man City and 4-3 to Liverpool.

Could Salah return to form on Sunday? The Egypt star has scored 14 in his last 16 starts at Anfield.

BETTING ODDS/PREDICTIONS

Liverpool are narrow favourites heading into this mouthwatering clash - 31/20 on Bet 365, with the champions at 9/5.