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Manchester City-Liverpool Preview: The big one

By J.C. Gonzalez

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola watches his players from the touchline during the UEFA Champions League football Group C match between Manchester City and Olympiakos at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England on November 3, 2020. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola watches his players from the touchline during the UEFA Champions League football Group C match between Manchester City and Olympiakos at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England on November 3, 2020. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Manchester City’s biggest test of the early season has arrived in the form of Liverpool.

With the Premier League title race appearing to be wide open, Manchester City will need to make a statement in their first clash against Liverpool this season at home. These matches have shaped and defined the league title picture in recent seasons, and if City are to contend for the title, taking advantage of a six-point match against the favorites and defending champions is crucial.

If City lose, they will already be eight points behind the Reds, while a win will put them just two points behind with a game in hand and an eventual chance to overtake them. Heading into the international break, this match along with the one on the other side of the break against Tottenham will test arguably the league’s three top title favorites.

Without Virgil Van Dijk, Liverpool’s defense is there for the taking. Nevertheless, they haven’t seemed to miss a beat so far without their star man, but this will be a test. Games like these go a long way in defining a season, and this will represent a key chapter in City’s fate, as well as their future under Pep Guardiola.

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It may be too early to say that City must win this match to contend for the title, but at the very least it feels that way. This is the biggest test of City’s recent success, and whether or not they have truly overcome their early season struggles. The moment has arrived.

Prediction XI: Ederson (GK), Kyle Walker (RB), Rúben Dias (CB), Aymeric Laporte (CB), João Cancelo (LB), Rodri (CDM), İlkay Gündoğan (CDM), Kevin De Bruyne (CAM), Riyad Mahrez (RW), Gabriel Jesus (ST), Raheem Sterling (LW)