Guardiola says City will "go there to win the game" despite poor record at Anfield
Liverpool vs Manchester City
Competition: F.A. Premier League
Date: 4.30 pm, Sunday 7th February 2021
Venue: Anfield, Liverpool
Referee: Michael Oliver Assistants: S Burt, S Bennett Fourth Official: C Kavanagh VAR: P Tierney
Odds: Liverpool 12/5, Draw, 13/5, City 11/10.
TV: Sky Sports
Liverpool
Manager: Jurgen Klopp
Squad (from): Alisson, Adrian, Kelleher, Kabak, Tsimikas, Robertson, Davies, Williams, Phillips, Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Thiago, Milner, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones, Shaqiri, Firmino, Mane, Salah, Origi
Injured: van Dijk, Gomez, Matip, Keita, Jota
Doubtful: Fabinho, Mane
Suspended: None
Form guide: LLWWL
Manchester City
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Squad (from): Ederson, Steffen, Carson, Walker, Dias, Stones, Zinchenko, Laporte, Mendy, Cancelo, Garcia, Gundogan, Rodrigo, Silva, Fernandinho, Foden, Doyle, Bernabe, Sterling, Jesus, Torres, Mahrez, Delap
Injured: Ake, De Bruyne, Aguero
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Form guide: WWWWW
City will once again be without Sergio Aguero, Nathan Ake and Kevin De Bruyne for the trip to Anfield. City lead Jurgen Klopp's side by seven points after Liverpool's midweek home defeat against Brighton, but City have a wretched record at Anfield, with just one victory in the last forty years.
“We make a good performance there and sometimes are not able to win,” said Pep Guardiola at Friday's press conference.
“I want to see my team go to Anfield and try to win the game, like day one since we were together. We go there to win the game, not draw. We want to win the game.
“They are always a top team. They still have a top squad, they know the process, skills, methodology, they are aggressive. They will be more aggressive than ever; they rest after Brighton. They recover and will be ready.”
"Of course it would be important to win,” he said. “If you beat Liverpool, United, - it’s important to beat them, I cannot deny it. It is always difficult against Liverpool.
“It is a top club, top history, players, manager, backroom staff. Always difficult. It’s not about how many years (since City’s last win at Anfield), or whatever - there are 38 Premier League games - this is one more.
“Not long ago we were twelfth in table and now we are first. I am not concerned more about the Liverpool game more than the rest."
Liverpool should be able to call on Alisson, Sadio Mane and Fabinho after the trio missed the home defeat to Brighton on Wednesday. Diogo Jota, Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Naby Keita all remain out injured for the time being.
“They are special games, that’s how it is", said Jurgen Klopp. But in the end it’s for three points. Obviously City in the moment are in a slightly different moment than we are, we should not forget that as well, but one thing is clear – if you don’t defend on your highest level against City, you don’t even have to think about getting anything out of the game.”
Liverpool have lost their last two games at home, but Klopp was keen to play down their recent problems at Anfield.
“It’s not that I can say, ‘don’t forget now boys’. Everyone knows it’s Anfield, we love playing there still.
“It’s a great place, the best place we can imagine so it’s all good. But we didn’t win the last two games – I know that.
“But we were not interested in winning 68 in a row so why should we now make the two we didn’t win bigger than it is. I don’t think I could sit here if we lost 68 in a row or something like that, that would be really sensational.
“So it’s all about trying again, being positive, enjoying football – all these kind of things – and make it a fortress again.”
City lost their last league game at Anfield 3-1, with Bernardo Silva getting a late consolation goal. Overall City have won 49 of the 186 games played against the Merseysiders, with 47 draws and 90 defeats.
Predicted line-up: Ederson, Cancelo, Stones, Dias, Laporte, Rodri, Gundogan, Silva, Foden, Sterling, Jesus
Score prediction: Liverpool 1 City 1