LIVERPOOL VS MANCHESTER CITY PREVIEW & PREDICTION
Liverpool and Manchester City play against each other on Wednesday-evening in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Everything is there to make this British get-together a cracker.
Liverpool FC:
The winner of the 2004/2005 Champions League has already shown itself to be the best this year. There are of course larger favorites for the final win, but Liverpoolm has a team that can be strong for the day. In the group stage the Liverpudlians were too strong for the competition, and even in the eighth finals there were few potholes in the way. The first leg at FC Porto was more than won (0-5), after which the return on Anfield Road was nothing more than a formality (0-0).
The strongest part of The Reds’ team is undoubtedly the attack. Where the rest of the team consists of reasonable to good players, the first three of Liverpool are world class. Sadio Mané, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah are always and everywhere able to make the difference. They did that in Liverpool’s league match against Manchester City, when they all put their name on the scoreboard. In January of this year, Liverpool won in its home with 4-3 from City – the only defeat of that team this season in the Premier League. In that Premier League Liverpool won last weekend with the heels over the ditch. A late hit by Salah led to winning at Crystal Palace (1-2).
Manchester City:
Manchester City is the team that is almost unbeatable this season. Pep Guardiola has invested a lot, but now there is a team that can compete with the absolute toppers in Europe. In the group stage of this Champions League, The Citizens had few problems, even though the final match at Shakhtar Donetsk, which was no longer important for City, was lost (2-1). Lost was also in the return of the eighth finals, in their own stadium, against FC Basel. That 1-2 defeat, however, was far from enough to brush away the 0-4 win from the first race in Switzerland.
The national title has been coming a long time for the blues. The lead on the competition, with fellow cityman United in front, is gigantic. So big, that Manchester City may be champion Saturday, in the home match against the rivals from the city. Pep Guardiola and the players of course let us know for the time being only the match of Wednesday night at Anfield. Striker Sergio Aguero will not be present, although the club has hopes for a quick return from the Argentinian.
PREDICTION: Both teams to score / YES @ 1.49
