MAN CITY: PREDICTED XI - LIVERPOOL (A)

Source: Manchester City

Manchester City face their biggest test of the season this weekend when they travel to Anfield to face joint league leaders Liverpool.

Manchester City have not had success at this ground in recent times with their last win at this stadium coming in 2003, this is only reinforced by the two managers at the helm of both clubs.

Jurgen Klopp has a history with Pep Guardiola as it was his Borussia Dortmund side that challenged Bayern Munich when Guardiola was the manager there.

Klopp’s direct, press based football is a good counter to the possession and passing game of Guardiola and if the game is anything like the meetings last season between these two sides, it is sure to be an eventful game.

Manchester City earnt a hard fought 3 points against Hoffenheim in the Champions League midweek and though this is always a very tough fixture, Guardiola may believe his side has the edge on this occasion with Liverpool failing to win in their last 3 games (Admittedly those were against Chelsea and Napoli).

Predicting any Pep Guardiola team selection can be very difficult due to the way he mixes up his teams on a week to week basis and this inly heightened by the uncertainty in the fitness levels of key players Benjamin Mendy and Kevin De Bruyne.

In defence for Manchester City two names go right in, Kyle Walker at right back and Aymeric Laporte who I believe will be playing at centre back but could play at left back if Benjamin Mendy is not fit. Laporte has become City’s first choice centre back this season and Kyle Walker is always a starter when fit.

I do believe Benjamin Mendy will start against Liverpool and John Stones will play alongside Laporte. Vincent Kompany was not overly convincing at times against Hoffenheim and Otamendi is known for playing poorly against Liverpool.

Stones and Laporte offer that added pace and quality when passing it out from the back which will be crucial when bypassing the Liverpool press.

In midfield, the first name is always Fernandinho followed by David Silva. When both of these are fit they have to play, their quality is undeniable. The only room for some debate would be in who makes up the third midfielder which I believe will be Bernardo Silva.

I don’t believe Kevin De Bruyne will be fit in time as he has only just started training again with the first team and with Ilkay Gundogan injured against Hoffenheim this only makes sense for Bernardo to start alongside his Silva counterpart.

The attack writes itself as these three have all been in great form as of late. Sterling, Sane and Aguero. Sterling is somebody who often struggles when playing against his old side so I could see Riyad Mahrez coming on if things need to be switched up but Sterling has been in too good form in the League lately to deny him his chance.

Here is how my predicted line up looks: