Four issues Guardiola has to consider for clash against Klopp’s leaders

Pivotal match will test City manager, writes Luke Edwards at the Etihad Stadium

The loss of Aymeric Laporte is still being acutely felt, and although it was encouraging to see John Stones enjoy a return to form of sorts against Southampton on Saturday, Liverpool’s vibrant attacking play will pose far more complex problems than Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side.

Even so, City made things harder for themselves by allowing the visitors to take the lead, which meant they had to chase the game and gave the Saints something to defend.

This time, it was a rudimentary error in the 13th minute by goalkeeper Ederson that made things complicated.

City had started the game well, knocking on the Southampton door with increasing force, when they fell behind. There was no excuse, goalkeeper Ederson saw Stuart Armstrong’s shot from the second it left his boot and it was straight at him, but the Brazilian failed to smother it, the ball bouncing off his chest straight to James Ward-prowse, who was in the right place to guide it into the net.

If City fall behind against Liverpool, it is difficult to imagine them going on to win the match – and a win at Anfield has to be the target to crank up the pressure in the title race. these days – but Guardiola must decide how to handle the build-up to such a pivotal game.

Will he continue to play down the significance of the trip to Anfield and deny that his team need to win to retain the title?

Realistically, you would have thought City at least need to avoid defeat, even at such a relatively early stage of the campaign, but Guardiola may well feel it is better to relieve some of the pressure on his players.

The fact he has already accused Liverpool’s Sadio Mane of diving, without any prompting – a blatant dig designed to antagonise their opponents – suggests Guardiola will look to use the media in mischievous ways. Manchester City are cruising through their group and should qualify for the knockout stage with games to spare, so they can afford to send out a weaker team against Italian side Atalanta this Wednesday than they will undoubtedly field against league leaders Liverpool four days later.

They thrashed Atalanta 5-1 at the Etihad Stadium last month – after also falling behind – so does it make sense to leave the likes of Ederson, Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling, Fernandinho, Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan out of the starting XI for Wednesday’s game in Bergamo? It probably does.

This is the ideal game for Guardiola to make use of squad rotation, especially as Liverpool will almost certainly take the opportunity to do the same when they welcome Genk to Anfield tomorrow night. Manchester City’s first shot on target against Southampton was in the 70th minute – the longest they have had to wait in a league match since December 2016 v Leicester