Liverpool vs Manchester City preview: Guardiola aims to bury Anfield hoodoo

By Ric Turner, Fri 12 January 2018 17:23


Liverpool vs Manchester City preview: Guardiola aims to bury Anfield hoodooCity have only won away at Liverpool once in the last 36 years

Liverpool vs Manchester City

Competition: F.A. Premier League

Date: 4.00pm, Sunday 14th January 2018

Venue: Anfield, Liverpool

Referee: Andre Marriner Assistants: S Ledger, R West Fourth Official: M Dean

Odds: Liverpool 11/5, Draw 14/5, City 13/10

Tickets: Sold out

TV: Sky Sports

Liverpool

Manager: Jurgen Klopp

Squad (from): Karius, Mignolet, Ward, Gomez, Lovren, Klavan, Matip, Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Moreno, Milner, Wijnaldum, Can, Henderson, Lallana, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mane, Sturridge, Firmino, Salah, Solanke, Ings

Injured: Clyne

Doubtful: Sturridge, Henderson, Moreno

Suspended: None

Form guide: WDWWWW

Manchester City

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Squad (from): Bravo, Ederson, Muric, Adarabioyo, Danilo, Mangala, Otamendi, Stones, Walker, Delph, De Bruyne, Diaz, Fernandinho, Sane, B Silva, D Silva, Sterling, Toure, Aguero

Injured: Kompany, Mendy, Jesus, Foden

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Form guide: WWDWWW

Vincent Kompany has not yet recovered from the calf injury he sustained at Newcastle a fortnight ago, whilst Benjamin Mendy and Phil Foden remain long term absentees. There was, however, brighter news on the injury front as Pep Guardiola revealed that Gabriel Jesus could return in as little as two weeks time after damaging knee ligaments against Crystal Palace on New Year's Eve.

Guardiola said: "He was (this week) in Barcelona and the news is quite good. I think two or three weeks, against Basel in the Champions League, he could be ready."

City go into the game unbeaten in the league this season, but have a dire record at Anfield with just one win in the previous 36 years. Guardiola, however, is relishing the challenge:

"Of course if you want to achieve something that’s good and win titles you have to win these kind of games.

"This season we were able to do that but we still have to go to Anfield, to Tottenham - there are still lots of games to play.

"But Liverpool is such an important game, to realise again if we are able to do big things in this season, in important stages, in the Champions League.

"To see ourselves, when we arrive in Basel, knockout games - how is our behaviour? We did it in Stamford Bridge, Old Trafford, and we'll see on Sunday how we do."

City's last away game at Anfield ended in a 1-0 defeat, with Georginio Wijnaldum scoring the only goal of the game. Overall City have won 46 of the 177 games played against Liverpool, with 45 draws and 86 defeats.

Predicted line-up: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Delph, Fernandinho, D Silva, De Bruyne, Sterling, Sane, Aguero

Score prediction: Liverpool 2 City 2