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Manchester City vs. Liverpool: Preview, Lineups, Stats, And Prediction

A battle between two different managers, while Manuel Pelligrini is the person who would be perfect as an undertaker, without expression, Jurgen Klopp should have been a cheerleader and he is one more often than not, pumping his fists and living almost every single hit and miss of his team.

Liverpool Players celebrate heir goal
Liverpool

Liverpool travel to the Etihad in this tasty encounter which should feature a lot of goals, Manchester City won the corresponding fixture last time around with a 3-1 score, but Liverpool have been decent and have picked up a few wins against City. Liverpool fans will cherish the 3-2 win at Anfield which almost got them the title but the onus will be on City to get the three points and continue their march at the top of the Premier League table.

The last time, in fact, the only time that Pelligrini and Klopp have met was in the 2012 Champions League quarter-final which exploded into life in the second leg. Dortmund scored two late goals to defeat Pelligrini’s Malaga and that could hold in good stead for Klopp in case he wants to return to Liverpool with a point at least against a formidable Manchester City team.

Team News:

Sergio Aguero
Sergio Aguero

Both teams have quite a few players out with injury while the home team should be able to recall the services of the hitman, Sergio Aguero. Manchester City will still be without the services of Captain Vincent Kompany, Samir Nasri, David Silva and Wilfried Bony. There are even doubts on the fitness of Pablo Zabaleta.

Liverpool should have Daniel Sturridge fit enough to feature in the game and it will be up to Jurgen Klopp if he wants the ex-City player to have a role in the game. Jordan Henderson will also miss out on the game, but another ex-City player should make it into the team, James Milner. Mamadou Sakho also misses out after injuring knee ligaments in the last match for Liverpool.

There are quite a few players who would be facing their old teams, Raheem Sterling, the biggest one at least in terms of valuation. The England international left Liverpool unceremoniously in the summer and will look to play a part as he faces his ex-employers at the Etihad.

Predicted starting XI:

Manchester City: Joe Hart, Bacary Sagna, Eliaquim Mangala, Nicolas Otamendi, Aleksandar Kolarov, Fernando, Fernandinho, Kevin de Bruyne, Yaya Toure, Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero

Liverpool: Simon Mignolet, Nathaniel Clyne, Martin Skrtel, Dejan Lovren, Alberto Moreno, Emre Can, James Milner, Lucas Leiva, Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho, Christian Benteke

Stats:

Manchester City have not lost their last six games against Liverpool at the Etihad, winning four out of them.

Coutinho is the ace for Liverpool having scored thrice in four games against Manchester City.

Manchester City have created the most number of chances this season with 221.

City have scored at least two goals in 12 out of their last 13 games at the Etihad.

Prediction:

Injuries seem to play a major part for both teams, especially when it comes to selecting sides and Liverpool have been sort of a bogey team for Manchester City but with Sergio Aguero coming back into the team, it is all set for a City win.

Liverpool would do well to ensure they do not concede a lot of goals, especially with a partnership of Lovren and Skrtel. If Liverpool can keep City quiet for the first half, they might still have a chance of sneaking away with a point. That would be a great result for Jurgen Klopp, but the game is all set for Manchester City to win as they continue their charge for the Premier League title.

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