Liverpool welcome in-form Manchester City to Anfield as both sides contest for the first leg quarter finals of Uefa Champions League.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are one of just four teams to beat Pep Guardiola’s impressive City this season , having won 4-3 in January and will be looking to repeat that feat to set one foot into the semi-final.
Nevertheless, City put five past the Reds back in September, showing that they are more than capable and fit of putting their Premier League competitors to the sword.
The two Premier league clubs are among the most prolific scorers in this season’s competition, amassing 47 goals between them, and their previous meeting suggests that there will be goals galore in the match.
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Liverpool have confirmed that Joel Matip is set to undergo surgery on a thigh injury, which means he is out of the game, while full-back Joe Gomez is ruled out after sustaining an ankle injury during international duty with England.
Adam Lallana is a doubt for the match after being forced off in the game against Crystal Palace, as is Emre Can.
Potential Liverpool starting XI: Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Lovren, Robertson; Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wijnaldum; Salah, Mane, Firmino.
On the other-side, City have indicated that John Stones will be assessed closer to kick-off, while Benjamin Mendy is nearing a return to full fitness but is not likely to be involved. While Guardiola had indiciated Sergio Aguero was in the mix, he did not travel with the squad to Liverpool.
Fabian Delph is a concern and the midfielder turned full-back will undergo a late fitness test.
Potential Man City starting XI: Ederson; Walker, Kompany, Otamendi, Danilo; Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Sterling, D. Silva, Sane; Jesus.
Bayern Munich defender Mats Hummels said that every team wanted to avoid Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-final and Man City were no different, as Txiki Begiristain’s immediate response to the draw revealed.
The City director of football was none too pleased to see his side paired with the Merseyside outfit and with good reason: they are one of, if not the, most dangerous teams left in the competition.
Klopp has promised that there will be ‘fire’ in the match, a sentiment that is easy to understand given both sides’ emphasis on attack and the intensity at which they play their football.
“If I have the choice to watch a Champions League game, I would watch this one,” Klopp said. “It’s about tactics but there will be fire, that’s cool, it’s at Anfield, so a good atmosphere to watch.”
Indeed, with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino on one side and Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne on the other, neutrals in particular will be relishing the prospect.
BBC