Guardiola to draw first blood this season
The top two from the last couple of Premier League campaigns go head-to-head in the headline fixture of the weekend, as Manchester City host Liverpool. This identical meeting last term saw Pep Guardiola’s men run riot and slam four goals past Alisson Becker without conceding and condemn the newly crowned champions to a crushing defeat. The Reds will be seeking revenge this time around, despite conceding the second most goals in the division they have returned to the summit of the league in recent weeks and if last season proves anything, they can really get into their stride when sitting top of the tree.
Market
The last meeting has played a big role in the odds for this fixture I believe, with City sitting 10th in the table and ranking 12th on expected goals they are odds on favourites to get the win against a team that are top of the league in both of those metrics. With a defensive injury crisis and without a comfortable league win since September, City will smell blood. Joe Gomez has been the only fit senior centre back in the last two outings, Joel Matip may be rushed in to play, but that could equally cause problems for the Reds if the Cameroonian is not completely ready.
One to watch
Often victimised for simulation and greed, Mohamed Salah is the best attacking talent on display in this match and his attacking since coming to the Premier League suggests as much. The former Chelsea man has scored 102 and assisted 41 in 163 games for the Reds, that is 0.88 direct goal involvements per game. Alongside Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota, the visitors do boast a more dynamic attacking contingent than City, who are more reliant on Kevin De Bruyne, yet have more attacking depth with the return of Aymeric Laporte and emergence of new signing Ruben Dias.
Priorities
Even though this fixture will be the main event of these club’s weeks, City have a much kinder match in the Champions League in midweek. The 2019/20 runners up host Olympiakos, whereas Liverpool travel to Bergamo to face a tough Atalanta side who were minutes away from making the Champions League semi finals last term. Guardiola will rotate and ensure that his best eleven are fit and firing come Sunday.
Post bet chat Marcus's Tips:
KDB missed a pen. Gutting, 1-1. A result both managers will be content with.