City know they can be turned over at Anfield... and that will weigh very heavily on them
I WAS there the day Manchester City last won at Anfield. Right in the front row.
Actually, it was more second row, because I started the move that led to Nico Anelka (below) scoring in the last minute, to give us a 2-1 win over our old club Liverpool. I was so knackered, I didn’t even make it to him for the celebrations!
I would have done. I’m not one of those who say you can’t celebrate against your old club. I see it now, and some kid had one game where he brought on a can of Fanta in the last minute, and years later makes an exaggerated show of not celebrating against his old club.
I love Liverpool. Obviously. They’re in my blood and when it comes down to it on Sunday afternoon, of course I want them to win against City, even though I played for both. But I’d have celebrated because it was a massive achievement.
Doesn’t matter how bad they are, what sort of level they’re at, playing them at Anfield is a tough ask for any team. And in the sort of controlled form Liverpool have been in this season, every player at City knows they’re in for a ridiculous afternoon.
I don’t actually remember too much about that goal in 2003. I know we had a good team and were great value for our win. I also know it is just crazy that City haven’t won there since, with all the incredible teams they’ve had in recent years.
Why? I honestly don’t know. There shouldn’t be these ‘hoodoo’ grounds, where you haven’t won for years. Shouldn’t because every few years, it’s a completely new set of players, new manager, new outlook. Yet it still happens. This City team know they can be turned over at Anfield. It’s virtually the same team as last season which lost twice there, and were proper thumped in the European game.
That will weigh on them. Heavily. You’ve
seen it with Pep, he seems slightly fixated about Jurgen Klopp and how to beat his sides. He even admitted in his press conference on Friday that Liverpool have worked him out. He did finish the sentence by adding: “We won the league, mind,” and that’s the biggest point I’d make about this game, no matter what happens. City are the champions for a reason, and they’re playing some incredible football.
For me, they go into the game as slight favourites, but in a way it doesn’t matter. Whether people like it or not, they are the two best teams in the Premier League, and I’m pretty sure it will be between them for the title.
Both clubs being this good at this moment and playing this brand of exciting football has done for Jose Mourinho. But it’s brilliant for English football fans, because it shows you can have success playing with ambition and adventure.
It makes this game mouthwatering. Deep down, all fans, no matter what club, will be looking forward to the game, and fascinated about the outcome. I think the City liver pool rivalry is fast becoming the big one in English football in a way.
Of course it was always Liverpool-united when I was playing.
But these are the games you have to turn up in, the ones you’ve been dreaming about as a kid when you put in all that hard work to get through and make it. There’s no room for freezing, no room for playing safe. If you really want it, you’ve got to take it.
We will see a lot of things from this game, and it’s pointless trying to call it, but one thing I truly believe, we will see the two teams who will contest the title.