How City can win

Covering for Mendy

City look to be without Benjamin Mendy, a player who has provided four assists in four games, providing a threat down the left wing (see graphic left) and some defensive nous, too.

Aymeric Laporte’s attempts to slow down Salah in previous meetings have not ended well and he offers less going forward, while Leroy Sane surely cannot be relied upon to protect the left on his own.

Playing Laporte on the left gives City the option of altering the shape to a back three in a 3-1-4-2 when in possession, allowing Kyle Walker to get forward on the right and overlap Raheem Sterling, as opposed to staying central as he has done for much of the season.

Laporte would also provide a bit of safety for Sane to experiment in advanced positions. This shape caters for more central attacking players, flanked by the always-dangerous wingers.

Liverpool are without the catalyst for two of their victories over City last season.

Alex Oxladechamberlain opened the scoring in both of Liverpool’s Anfield wins, with his explosive runs from midfield breaking the lines of the City defence.

Although a 4-3-3, the average position graphic (left) shows how Liverpool’s shape became a 4-2-4 as Oxladechamberlain (21) burst forward with the ball.

With Naby Keita also carrying an injury, it looks as though Liverpool must find someone else to perform this role tomorrow, alongside a more stable two of James Milner and either Jordan Henderson or Georginio Wijnaldum.