Liverpool will today welcome Manchester City at Anfield in a game that could lay the foundation and determine who could win this season’s English Premier League. A draw or win for Liverpool could spell disaster for Pep Guardiola’s men, meaning that their pursuit of Arsenal at the top of the table could take a bit of a dent. Kick-off is at 6.30pm.
City are lying second and trailing Arsenal, who have established themselves as chokers in the last couple of seasons, by six points. A win for City will surely put pressure on the Gunners, who are now seen as the favourites to end a 22-year league trophy drought.
Said Liverpool coach Arne Slot: “Well, I mean [what] you remember is that game we played over there in the first half, and were completely outplayed for large parts, not for a complete 45 minutes, but for large parts. It’s another moment for us to see where we are in the development of this team.
“That, of course, being said, we also know the importance of today’s result, but that goes for all the 20 teams that are playing this weekend in the Premier League. It’s the end phase of the season, so the results matter more and more, but City are a very good team. In the last two games, we’ve been really good in both boxes, and then people start to notice that our football might be better as well.
“I think off the ball we were really good. The third we scored came from a high press and a very good transition moment. We had a few good transition moments. I see also individual performances that are getting better, because these players are getting fitter and adjusting towards Premier League, Champions League amount of games.”
In their last meeting, City walloped Liverpool 3-0 as Guardiola took charge of his 1 000th game.
Erling Haaland opened the scoring before the half-hour mark, thumping home a header, with every outfield player touching the ball in the build-up.
Nico doubled City’s lead in first-half stoppage time with a powerful drive that deflected off Virgil van Dijk on the way through. Jeremy Doku made it three with a curled effort into the corner.
