Man City bids to banish Liverpool voodoo at Anfield
premier league champion manchester city returns to the scene of its worst defeats of last season when it takes on title rival liverpool in a highly-anticipated clash at Anfield on sunday.
city was beaten twice by juergen Klopp’s team on merseyside – a 4-3 defeat in the league and a 3-0 reverse in the champions league quarterfinal, first leg.
the matches were superb entertainment for the neutral fan and another high-octane affair is expected on sunday.
both teams have made unbeaten starts to the domestic season with six victories from seven games and 19 points each – pep Guardiola’s side is top of the table thanks to a better goal difference.
the manner of liverpool’s victories, ripping apart city’s defense with its high pressing and highspeed forward line, left the impression that the Reds may have city’s number.
“these are the games you want to win. they are a team in form and at Anfield, we know this will be a difficult game for us,” city captain Vincent Kompany said.
“but I think this city side has shown in the past that we are always up for these games,” he added.
In january, liverpool led 4-1 before a late city attempted comeback yielded two goals in the last 10 minutes, with all three of Klopp’s forwards – mohamed salah, sadio mane and Roberto Firmino – on target.
that front-line hasn’t quite hit the heights of last season yet with salah in particular lacking sharpness, but in Xherdan shaqiri and Daniel sturridge, whose spectacular late goal earned a point at chelsea last week, Klopp has options from the bench.
liverpool also looks stronger at the back than last season and has more options in midfield with the addition of Naby Keita and Fabinho.
both teams will feature brazilian goalkeepers who are adept at passing, with Alisson becker at liverpool bringing some of the qualities city has benefited from with its number one ederson.
jose mourinho can ill-afford another poor result for his struggling manchester united side when the Red Devils face Rafa benitez’s Newcastle at old trafford on saturday.
Amid reports of divisions in the camp, united has not won in its last four outings over all competitions and is 10th in the premier league, nine points adrift of the top two.
third-place chelsea, which is also unbeaten, is away to southampton on sunday while Arsenal faces promoted Fulham at craven cottage.
After facing barcelona on Wednesday, tottenham hotspur, depleted by injuries, hosts second-bottom cardiff city. (Reuters) On TV: English Premier League Round 8: Friday: brighton & hove Albion vs West ham united (live on sport 2 at 10 p.m.); Saturday: leicester city vs everton (live on sport 1 at 5 p.m.); tottenham hotspur vs cardiff city (live on sport 2 at 5 p.m.); manchester united vs Newcastle united (live on sport 1 at 7:30 p.m.). Sunday: Fulham vs Arsenal (live on sport 1 at 2 p.m.); southampton vs chelsea (live on sport 1 at 4:15 p.m.); liverpool vs manchester city (live on sport 1 at 6:30 p.m.)