Manchester City v Liverpool Betting Tip Over 3.5 goals – 10 April 2018

Goals on the cards at the Etihad.

Champions League Tips

Tuesday 10th April 2018 Kick off 1945hrs Manchester City v Liverpool Football – Europe – Champions League Manchester City have not had many bad days this season but there’s no doubt that the past six days have been incredibly sore for Pep Guardiola and his players. Few expect them to be able to do enough to turn Tuesday’s Champions League quarter final tie with Liverpool around as the Reds make the short journey to Manchester with that resounding 3-0 lead on aggregate. Barcelona showed how it was done just over a year ago – can one of their most successful ever coaches take inspiration from that famous match against PSG and produce a stunning comeback?!

Most City supporters probably felt they could not be more gutted after being thrashed in the first leg at Anfield last Wednesday – but then Saturday happened. What looked like a commanding lead at half time was quickly frittered away as Manchester United put their rivals’ title celebrations on hold for a few days as they produce an excellent comeback of their own. Three second half goals for the visitors may just give Guardiola that bit of confidence that his own team can continue their path in this season’s Champions League and get the better of Liverpool. To do that they will have to do much better than the first leg where they were deplorable defensively, especially in that opening 45 minutes. Those same defensive weaknesses came back to haunt them having been exposed by United at the weekend and confidence must be low coming into this one. At the other end the park the fitness of Sergio Aguero is paramount to City’s chances. His experience was missed last week and although Gabriel Jesus is a supreme talent, Aguero has been City’s main man for goals this term and is often the man for big occasion.

Even the staunchest of Liverpool fans could not have scripted a better first leg – score three goals, keep a clean sheet and take a huge step towards the last four of the Champions League in the process. The only slightly troubling aspect of the game was Mohammed Salah limping off in the second half – but the good news is he looks set to return in time for tomorrow having sat out the Merseyside derby on Saturday. Jurgen Klopp made no secret of his displeasure of having to play that game but he rotated his squad and although they never won the game, Liverpool came through the match relatively unscathed and can now focus all their efforts on trying to close out this tie. In many ways it may well have been the perfect sort of game to prepare them for the match at the Etihad although they can be sure to expect a completely different threat from City. A similar result to what they managed at Goodison Park would be most welcome, of course, but Klopp and his squad will remember well the last time they faced Manchester City away from home and conceding five goals in the process.

Manchester City v Liverpool Betting Tip

At the halfway stage of this tie the score line is not looking like most people would have anticipated. Although Liverpool were the only team to have beaten City in the league before the first leg was played, Guardiola’s men have been superb for the most part of this campaign and rightly carried the favourites tag for not only this tie, but the competition in general. It’s much changed now of course as the Reds were able to play to their strengths and punish even the slightest of mistakes that City made in defence. How this second leg will play out depends on many factors, but the most apparent one would appear to be if City can keep a clean sheet of their own. Concede at all and the hosts would then be requiring a minor miracle of netting five to progress. Their most realistic hope would appear to be attempt to stifle Liverpool’s counter attacking prowess and finding the goals they need. How achievable that will be coming up against the pace of Salah and co is another matter entirely.

On the positive side for the home team they have hit three or more goals at home in 12 games this term, and seven of those results would be enough to see this go to extra time at least. Liverpool were giving a lesson back in September when losing 5-0 at this venue but that was with 10 men. It is looking very likely that Klopp will take a second club to the semi final stage of the Champions League but this has high-scoring written all over it under the circumstances and with so much attacking quality on the pitch.

Over 3.5 goals 11/10 @ Betfair