Liverpool are the only team to beat Manchester City in Premier League competition this season, so that will no doubt give the Reds plenty of confidence heading into their epic UEFA Champions League tussle with Manchester City Wednesday night. This will be the Anfield leg of the quarterfinal tie, and Reds boss Jurgen Klopp knows that getting past City will be a very difficult task.
On the other side, Pep Guardiola knows that he will have a lot to contend with in LFC’s attacking trio of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah. Maybe the Reds will catch a break, if some members of this extremely elite City side might proverbially have only one eye on this match, with another eye on their dream Premier League title clinching scenario against Manchester United next weekend.
One thing is for sure- this will be a very high scoring affair. City have scored 88 goals in Premier League competition this season, good for the top spot. Liverpool are second with 75. The next closest is Tottenham Hotspur with 62.
Let’s take a look at who Klopp might select for his first team.
The Sports Bank Liverpool FC Starting XI Prediction
LW – Sadio Mane CF- Roberto Firmino RW- Mohamed Salah
MF- Giorgino Wijnaldum MF- Jordan Henderson MF – James Milner
LB- Andrew Robertson CB – Virgil van Dijk CB – Joel Matip RB- Trent Alexander-Arnold
GK- Loris Karius
One guy who will not be in contention is midfielder Adam Lallana, who got hurt yet again this past weekend. Klopp said that his initial impression of the injury is that it looks serious.
Jurgen Klopp and Andy Robertson Press Conference Video: go to this link
Injury Report: go to this link
Manchester City Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Odds via Bet365 City 7/5 Liverpool 2/1 Draw 13/5
Prediction: Man City 5, Liverpool 4
As always, feel free to post to your own City and/or Liverpool starting XI predictions, as well as your score predictions, in the comments section below.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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