Before the start of the season, no one thought we would reach such a situation. By the time Liverpool host Manchester City tomorrow (Sunday), they will be 13 points behind the Citizens. So instead of a season game, the matchup between the runner-up and the champion turned into a regular league meeting.
“Liverpool still remains City’s biggest rival,” Pep Guardiola said at the press conference, “If you asked this question 10 games into the season, I would say they have no chance of catching us. But we are still at the beginning of the league and with the World Cup in the middle anything can happen. I I know it’s going to be a tough game. I’m not kidding myself.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp lamented the budget gap: “No team can compete with Manchester City. They are the best team in the world and brought the best scorer on the market (Holland). There are only three teams in the football world that can compete with them financially.” .
Professionally, Andy Robertson may return to the lineup for the first time after six weeks and a knee injury even before the national team break. However, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip and Luis Dias will be absent from the Liverpool ranks.
On the other side, Erlind Holland, the top scorer of the Premier League, is expected to return to the lineup after being rested in the midweek match against Copenhagen. On the other hand, John Stones will continue to be absent due to a hamstring injury while Kyle Walker and Kelvin Phillips are recovering from surgery and their long absence will continue.
What do the numbers say? History shows that Manchester City have won only 2 of their 25 away games at Anfield, but have not lost to their opponent in the last three meetings between them at Liverpool’s home. The two teams have already met this season, when Liverpool beat City 1:3 in the Community Shield in the summer.
City have a streak of 22 league games without losing away, when they recently lost 1:0 to Tottenham in the first round of last season. On the other hand, Klopp’s team has not lost in their last 27 league games, since the 1:0 loss to Fulham in March 2021. Klopp leads Guardiola 8:10 in the balance of meetings between the two. Another 7 games ended in a draw.
