Preview: Manchester City v/s Liverpool

Top of the table Liverpool travel to the Etihad stadium in a bid to move clear of the chasing pack ahead of the New Year

Two of the league’s free scoring sides go head to head for the first time in the campaign with the Manchester based side having netted a smashing 51 times in the league alone. Their opponents of tomorrow, a side highly dependent on Uruguayan Luis Suarez, have notched an impressive 42 goals in an equal number of games, an astounding record considering the same stat last season.

The home side boasts a potent attacking line up, which was strengthened in the summer with the acquisition of Alvaro Negredo, Jesus Navas, Stevan Jovetic in the particular department. However, the most impactful signing for the Citizens has been of Brazilian Fernandinho, who has paired up formidably with Ivorian Yaya Toure. The two have been the spine of the side, often winning midfield battles with their physical ability and apt reading of the game.

Brazilian Fernandinho has been a vital cog in the midfield for Manchester City

Fernandinho’s stats, in particular have been impressive defensively, having managed to make 49 tackles in all in the league alone. 36 interceptions and 31 fouls from along with 19 key passes in the final third have made him a key cog in the City machine. Often the one getting shadowed by his midfield partner, the former Shakhtar Dontesk midfielder has been a plug in their defensive game play, protecting them through his energy filled performances.

Shifting attention to their overall form, Manuel Pellegrini’s side have been top notch in home games, and here is where the problem lies. Their away form has let them down, which in all probabilities is the reason they are still not clear of the chasing pack in the league table. Just 16 goals in 9 games, having conceded 15, has led to them gaining only 3 wins and 2 draws in those away fixtures. Much of the credit needs to go to the way their opponents have played in these games, taking the game to the 2011-2012 league champions and not fearing the credibility they bring to the field on paper.

Pellegrini's side do need to improve on their away from though

At home though, they have been a strong force and facing Liverpool at this moment will be an appropriate test for their overall title credentials. The Merseyside based side have been consistent in their new style of play for which their manager Brendan Rodgers surely deserves a pat on the back. Slow, patient build up combined with short, penetrative passes has seen them awarded with a new sense of belief, although much of the applause for that should go to Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge to convert all that possession into goals. Rodgers has not only brought and implemented his tactical nous along with trimming the squad appropriately in the summer, but has also kept in mind the variations possible.

Their ability to play a 4-3-3 with Suarez atop, Philippe Coutinho on the left and Victor Moses/Raheem Sterling on the right with Jordan Henderson, Lucas Leiva and Steven Gerrard in midfield has reaped benefits considering how Suarez drops in deep to facilitate play alongside Gerrard from midfield. But with the England skipper out due to injury, they have certainly lost out on his experience in the middle of the park. Joe Allen, who has replaced Gerrard, has taken up his captain’s lead and has been a creative force from the midfield. Their ability to switch to a 3-5-2, however seamless it might be looks difficult going into this game considering Sturridge’s injury that has kept him out for a while now.

Sturridge, Gerrard and Suarez have been been crucial behind Liverpool's position in the table currently

As far as this table topping clash goes, a 4-3-3 with a narrow midfield with Henderson on the right and Allen on the left is most expected with Lucas Leiva the man to guard against the wading runs of Yaya Toure. With just one man going head to head against Toure and Fernandinho (who will tend to drive forward to support the attacks time and again) could be very hazardous to the Merseyside based club’s well being on the day which is where Henderson’s and Allen’s role could be crucial on the day. Playing with a narrow width in the centre of the park will not only protect their interests against the imposing City duo, but will also give space for their full backs to bomb ahead to support Coutinho and Sterling/Moses on the wings.

Jordan Henderson, Joe Allen and Lucas Leiva will have to win the midfield battle against Toure and Fernandinho

However might the tactics be implemented though, both side’s defense will need to be compact so as not to allow maximum utilization of free space by attackers hungry for goals on both team’s roasters. An end to end game, with Pellegrini’s team surely attacking their potential rivals for the title from the word go is the least expected.

Players missing due to injuries-

Manchester City: Sergio Aguero, Micah Richards, Stevan Jovetic, Pablo Zabaleta, Matija Nastasic
Liverpool: Steven Gerrard, Daniel Sturridge, Jose Enrique, Sebastian Coates, Jon Flanagan (subject to late fitness test)

Written by,

Aman Arora

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