Here we go- the passing of the torch. For the first time in 10,650 days, Liverpool FC will play a match as league champions. Just a bizarre coincidence here, but the very first team they’ll face as titleists happens to be the side they knocked off the perch- Manchester City.
The Cityzens two year reign as league champs is now over, and that means they will greet their visitors with a guard of honor.
Like just after the #UCL title last summer, @LastWeekTonight with @iamjohnoliver opens the show with tribute to @LFC ? pic.twitter.com/XMawNA8bKS
— Paul Maximilian Banks (@PaulMBanks) June 29, 2020
“Of course we are going to do it,” said City manager Pep Guardiola.
“We are going to do the guard of honor of course. Always we receive Liverpool when they come to our house in an incredible way. They cannot complain and of course we are going to do it because they deserve it.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has called upon Reds supporters to celebrate safely. Let’s hope that more of them do in fact follow the German’s advice.
Team news for both sides
City will be without Sergio Aguero for the rest of the domestic season after his having underwent knee surgery. Eric Garcia is a doubt due to the frightening head injury that he sustained against Arsenal but midfielder and emergency central defender Fernandinho is back after having finished serving a suspension.
The big news however, surrounds not injuries or fitness, but transfer talk. Guardiola has already said that winger Leroy Sane won’t be staying at the club beyond the realization of his contract.
Heavily linked with Bayern Munich for some time, a deal has now reportedly been reached for his transfer, with a fee that will initially cost €49million (£44.5m) and rising to €60m (£54.5m).
Multiple outlets report that the German will be in Bavaria to complete the transaction on Wednesday. Flipping over to Liverpool, they will likely be without James Milner and Joel Matip who have minor injuries, and simply won’t be risked for this clash.
Liverpool FC at Manchester City FYIs
Starting XI Predictions: Liverpool FC Manchester City
Kickoff: Sun July 2 8:15 BST, City of Manchester Stadium
Records: Manchester City 20-3-8 Liverpool FC 28-2-1
Odds: Liverpool FC +235 Draw +290 Manchester City +102
Form Guide: Manchester City WLWWL Liverpool FC WDLWL
Prediction: Manchester City 2, Liverpool FC 2
It’s a very difficult match to handicap and predict, as you just don’t know who’s going to really be fired up for this one.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly contributes to WGN TV, Sports Illustrated, Chicago Now and SB Nation.
You can follow Banks, a former writer for Chicago Tribune.com, on Twitter and his cat on Instagram.