Saturday 8th September 2017 Kickoff:1230hrs Manchester City v Liverpool Football – England – Premier League The Premier League returns with a huge match at the Etihad as two of the pre season favourites for the title clash. Manchester City and Liverpool may have already dropped points in disappointing fashion this season, but they have also shown their undoubted quality and ability. Both sets of fans have not only had to deal with the prolonged international break ahead of this one, but they endured a torturous end of the transfer window, too. As a result, everybody will be delighted to get back to matters on the field for their respective clubs and it promises to be a thrilling occasion.
Manchester City have been usurped as favourites for the Premier League title by the other half of Manchester after their respective starts to the season. City have been held by Everton at home, whilst winning away to Brighton and Bournemouth either side of that. They had a last minute goal from Raheem Sterling to thank for getting all three points last time out otherwise it would have seen them fall four points behind United at the top. Despite winning their two games narrowly, City have shown real potential going forward at times, without having that clinical edge at the end of it. It sounds silly considering they have the services of Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus in the striking positions, so you won’t imagine it will take long before they turn that around. Saturday would represent an excellent opportunity to do just that and lay down a marker against a title rival.
Liverpool would have been severely disappointed when dropping points to Watford on the opening day of the season against Watford, having gotten into a winning position. It also served to illustrate that they were suffering from the same issues that plagued them all of last season in defence. To their credit, however, they have responded well by winning their next four games. Two impressive victories against Hoffenheim in the Champions League and taking six points from their following two league games against Crystal Palace and Arsenal have got them right back on track. The 4-0 win against Arsenal in particular served notice to the rest of the Premier League that although they may still be a work in progress, they remain a devastating prospect in attack and have an array of players capable of causing opposition defences damage. Saturday is an undoubted challenge but as we know from Jurgen Klopp’s time in charge, games against the ‘big’ teams usually bring out the best in this Reds team.
I alluded to the ongoing saga that was the whole of the transfer window for these two clubs and although it was mixed fortunes for both, I think we can all agree that it is a relief to see it come to an end. City were linked throughout the summer with a move for Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal but despite putting in several bids in the lead up to the close of the window, they were unable to prise him away from the Gunners. It was even more complicated at Anfield as Liverpool were being linked with players coming and going. The will he, won’t he drama surrounding Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona rumbled on even after the window closed with claim and counter claim, eventually resulting in the player staying. It wasn’t all good news for Klopp and the Liverpool supporters, though, with them admitting defeat in their pursuit for Virgil van Dijk. Many felt he would be the perfect player to help solve their defensive issues but Southampton were unwilling to sell. I’m sure we can prepare for more of the same in January…
Manchester City v Liverpool Betting Tip
These two were the third and fourth highest scoring in the Premier League last season and there squads are packed full of attacking a talent. The two games between them in the previous campaign were more subdued than we would probably have expected with a total of three goals between them. Liverpool came out on top in the head to head battle, taking four points from their encounters.
Both managers have big decisions to make ahead of this game, made that bit trickier due to the number of players who played with their countries over the last 10 days or so. Guardiola’s big decisions revolves around who to play up top. Gabriel Jesus has started the season in better form and that could give him the nod over Aguero whilst it’s Jesus’ Brazilian teammate, Countinho, who will be the focus of attention for Liverpool fans. Despite scoring for Brazil it would be a surprise to see him brought straight back in having not featured for his club this season.
It’s a game I’m really looking forward to and will test the credentials of both. Although we’re still very early in the season, further dropped points would be a real blow for either team so we can expect both coaches to be targeting the win and that is likely to result in an entertaining games. The two matches never lived up to expectation last term but there is so much potential for goals in this win the selection is both teams to score and over 2.5 goals in the game.
Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals 3/4 @ Boylesports
