Manchester City v Liverpool Predictions & Betting Odds – 10th April 2018

City to win, but qualification in doubt

Manchester City
Manchester City © GEPA pictures

Manchester City v Liverpool Betting Preview – UEFA Champions League 10th April 7.45pm

What frame of mind are Manchester City going to be in? They were dealt a psychological blow on the weekend, blowing a 2-0 halftime lead at home against Manchester United in a game which they needed to win to seal the Premier League title. That was just a few days after the 3-0 hammering that they took at Anfield in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final. Are things starting to fall apart for them and does Pep Guardiola have a plan of how they get to handle the Reds?

Manchester City News and Form

This is a tough situation for City. They have to roll out a minimum 4-0 success on the night to make it through in 90 minutes. In the bet365 correct score market the shortest priced option is a Man City 2-1 success at 15/2 odds* (Betting Odds taken at 7:26 p.m. on April 8th, 2018) which doesn’t get them anywhere close to qualifying. A 4-0 win for them is at 18/1 odds* (Betting Odds taken at 7:26 p.m. on April 8th, 2018). In their one previous quarter-final appearance, Man City failed against PSG in the 2015/16 season and could be going the same way in this one. Just once before have the Citizens played a European tie against an English side before, losing against Chelsea 2-0 on aggregate in the 1970/71 European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-finals. Before they were beaten by Basel at the Etihad in the last round, City were 13 games unbeaten on home soil in Europe, winning four on the trot before that reverses against the Swiss. Overall home and away the Citizens have won six of their eight games in the competition this season. City have won only two of the six UEFA competition ties in which they lost the away first leg. Sergio Aguero is back fit and he is the 7/2 first goalscorer favourite at bet365* (Betting Odds taken at 7:26 p.m. on April 8th, 2018). He has 15 goals in 16 games in all competitions in 2018.

Liverpool News and Form

So how do Liverpool approach this? Do they try and sit back from kick off. Do they just go and stick to their usual high pressing game which has seen them beat City twice already this season? It is a bit of a dilemma for them. Liverpool are W5 D3 from eight previous two-legged knockout ties against fellow English sides in Europe. From those previous ties, Liverpool have never actually won an away game in Europe against an English rival (D5 L4); their record against English sides in Europe stands at W6 D8 L5. This season in Europe, Liverpool have won two of their four games away from Anfield, but they haven’t been all that reliable in terms of collecting away wins. They have only earned four victories in their last seventeen away games (D8 L5) in Europe. But then again, they don’t have to win this game. Liverpool are W29 L5 from previous two-legged ties in Europe when they have won the first leg at home. Four of those occasions were 3-0 home wins for the Reds and they won through on each of those occasions. Liverpool are a threat going forward and both teams to score is at 1/2 odds* (Betting Odds taken at 7:26 p.m. on April 8th, 2018). Liverpool have hit the back of the net in 18 of their last 21 games in all competitions, overall holding a W12 D6 L5 record away from Anfield. Mo Salah will be tested late to see if he’s fit enough to go. The Egyptian has 17 goals in his last 15 appearances for Liverpool.

Manchester City v Liverpool Head to Head

Last week’s meeting at Anfield was the first European clash between the Citizens and the Reds. Overall on the domestic scene, the two clubs have met 178 times before with the Reds well ahead with an 87-44 head to head lead with 46 draws. Man City took a 5-0 home win over Liverpool in this season’s Premier League. But Liverpool turned the tables at Anfield when they met in January, becoming the first side to beat them in this season’s Premier League. There have only been two previous two-legged knockout ties between them (both in the League Cup) with Liverpool winning through on both occasions. As an omen, the Reds went on to the win the trophy on those two occasions 1980/81 and in 2011/12.

Manchester City v Liverpool Betting Odds*

Man City 4/9, Draw 15/4, Liverpool 5/1* (Betting Odds taken at 7:26 p.m. on April 8th, 2018) 

 

Manchester City v Liverpool Predictions

As City don’t look like keeping Liverpool off the scoresheet the Reds are probably still a safe bet to qualify. But the Citizens have to throw the kitchen sink at this now and they did beat Liverpool heavily earlier in the season at the Etihad. City to win but both teams to score.