This once seemingly invincible 2017-18 Manchester City side has now conceded six goals (three apiece) in their last two matches; both of which were losses. The Citizens host Liverpool tomorrow night in the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal tie. City is down 3-0, and if they concede another goal tomorrow, they will a whopping five to then survive and advance to the Champions League semifinals.
City blew a 2-0 second half lead on Saturday in the Manchester derby, and United’s 3-2 win denied their Premier League title celebration for at least another week.
City manager Pep Guardiola was asked if memories of Saturday’s collapse could get in his players’ heads should they go up two again. “It’s difficult,” he responded, “difficult for our mood not winning and, yeah, that can happen. But maybe we will improve for the future regarding this, and realize that sometimes it is not enough what you’ve done to win.
“In the first half against United we tried to do what we’ve done all season but maybe it’s not enough to win at Champions League level or the Premier League.”
“If that’s so I will have to recognize that I’m not good enough or the way we want to play is not able to do that. But I don’t think so because of what we’ve done this season – in the first half (versus United), even in moments in the second half, I have to be happy. But when you play against Liverpool or in Europe when you have that momentum you have to close the door.”
“And we didn’t close it against United.”
Here is the team we predict Guardiola will field in an attempt to reverse their recent fortune.
Manchester City Starting XI Prediction
Sergio Aguero
Raheem Sterling David Silva Kevin De Bruyne Leroy Sane
Fernandinho
Kyle Walker Vincent Kompany Nicolas Otamendi Aymeric Laporte
Ederson
Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola Press Conference Video: coming Monday
Injury Report: coming soon
Liverpool Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Odds via Bet365 Manchester City 4/9 Liverpool 5/1 Draw 15/4
Prediction: Manchester City 3, Liverpool 1
As always, feel free to post to your own Manchester 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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