Manchester City Predicted Starting XI Against Liverpool

If there is any tiny criticism to make of Guardiola at Manchester City it has been his tendency to tinker and make changes prior to big games

Manchester City under Pep have been designed to play a certain way. Every coaching session and every game sees players undertaking their well drilled tasks within a coherent and planned system. In most games we no longer even alter much of our tactics on the pitch, and instead we persist with p[laying our way, forcing other teams to adapt their styles and approaches to match us.

But in a handful of games Pep has made crucial changes to how we set up and the roles of the players – like at Anfield against Liverpool last season in the Champions League. Those changes tend to proceed games where we underwhelm. So predicting a starting XI for what is our most important game of the season so far is fraught with difficulty.

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Will this be a match where Pep seeks to play to our strengths rather than counter the threat posed by Liverpool? Will ours team be designed to protect our weakness at left back in the continued absence of Benjamin Mendy? We all know how Liverpool will play. They will be fast and aggressive from the off, looking to steal the ball from our midfield and hit us with counter attacks.

Of the two managers, it is Guardiola who is having to deal with the bigger dilemma. He has to contend not only with the recent dip in form but also a combination of players returning from long injuries and suspension – City are without either their first or second choice left back for the match.

Given Guardiola has to cope with these circumstances I believe we will see a side which will be tinkered with. City will be setting up to try and thwart the swift counter attacking of Liverpool and will try to limit the impact of Salah on the right of their attack playing against our makeshift left back.

I think this will be a game where the defensive nous of Laporte will be preferred at left back to Zinchenko but it will be important to offer cover with pace in the form of Sane as a marauding left winger. With Laporte on the left I would expect Stones to be partnered with Kompany in the centre of defence with Walker on the right.

Midfield is likely to be Fernandinho and David Silva as the clear starters. The third berth in midfield would normally fall for De Bruyne, but he may well start the game on the bench, given he continues to recover. In his place will be Bernardo.

The attack will likely form around Aguero, although I did consider whether Sterling would be deployed as a false number 9. Instead I believe Sterling will be on the bench and Mahrez will be preferred alongside Sane. Guardiola will seek to limit the attacking of Robertson so will probably view Mahrez as more likely to trouble him.

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My personal wish would be for us to set up in a more attacking way so I would prefer to see Sterling for Mahrez but I would be happy if Zinchenko did not have to mark Salah. If City manage to play at their best then they should secure a win.

Man City Square Starting XI

4-3-3 Formation

Goalkeeper

Ederson

Defence

Walker, Kompany, Stones, Laporte

Midfield

Fernandinho, David Silva, Bernardo

Attack

Sane, Aguero, Mahrez

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