Manchester City v Liverpool Match Preview

Manchester City have many games still to play in this pandemic disrupted season, and yet we are struggling to get excited about facing Liverpool in the Premier League.

In many ways to fans of other clubs this will seem like sour grapes. Maybe it is. But as a Manchester City fan I am just not feeling very excited about playing Liverpool in the Premier League.

I know this is a game between the current top two sides in the Premier League and that as such it should be the biggest spectacle in the remaining calendar, but with the League being played out behind closed doors, with different rules and in Summer it is proving difficult to love.

Of course there is no jeopardy in the game either. Liverpool have already won their title and City will finish 2nd barring a spectacular breakdown. The outcome of this match will settle little.

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I hope that Manchester City win and when we hit our 5th goal then I will celebrate! But the reality is there is little at stake here and a large part of me would prefer to see some of our players rested for the trials ahead.

This is a match with some needle these days and ordinarily would have been a spectacular affair at the Etihad Stadium in front of an electric atmosphere. On Thursday evening it will be a largely sterile affair, played in silence.

Once the challenges start to clatter in then perhaps I will start to feel differently. Maybe players will find intensity and rhythm and we can settle back and watch a scintillating game of attacking football.

Pep Guardiola will be keen not to necessarily beat the Champions but to set the team ready for Southampton and our other games. Momentum may be key in our stop start season as we head towards the final stages of the Cup competitions we crave.

City have a strong available squad and I assume Pep will choose his best players for this game with the added advantage that a win may mean he can field some youngsters in the games to come.

My main concern though is coming through this game injury free rather than making a statement. Although another big home victory would of course be welcomed.

Starting XI

Ederson

Walker, Garcia, Laporte, Mendy

Gundogan, Silva, De Bruyne

Sterling, Jesus, Mahrez