Manchester City v Liverpool : Big Match Preview

The thing about supporting Manchester City is that big games seem to have come around pretty frequently in recent years

Not for the first time in the last few seasons City are facing the title ambitions of a resurgent Liverpool side who seek to claim their first ever Premier League title. Back in 2013/14 Liverpool went into the final few games of the season with a seemingly unassailable points lead, but slippy Steven Gerrard changed all of that and City fought their way to victory. In 2016 we beat them in a Cup Final at Wembley on penalties.

But this is a different kind of Liverpool side and if anything the relationship between the two clubs has deteriorated in the intervening years. City fans point to a series of incidents – Mane’s high challenge on Ederson, the Liverpool fans attack on the  City team bus – to name just 2, which have served to stoke up animosity.

But now we have reached the point where matters need to be settled on the pitch. The Blues will likely start their best available side, with doubts over the fitness of De Bruyne, Walker and Fernandinho, which will not be decided until the last possible moment.

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Pep Guardiola will hopefully not try and be too clever in his approach. He will know Liverpool will try and press high and quick, so will need to be assured the back 4 are capable of withstanding that pressure. He will be minded by the impact of Salah on the right wing and may well seek to deploy Danilo there in an effort to thwart Liverpool attacks. I hope we do not play a player out of position in such an important game.

The game has turned into a pivotal match for both clubs and with so much at stake, it is hoped that the football will decide the outcome. If City win, the Liverpool lead will seem very much like it will be caught by the trailing sides. A Liverpool win will all but extinguish the  City hopes of retaining the title.

This should be a cracking night where champions are truly made.