Predicted Manchester City lineup vs Liverpool, Walker starts

Manchester City play hosts to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in the first league game following the international break.  The Citizens have the chance to temporarily top the table on Saturday, but the Reds will pose a stiff challenge due their incredible unbeaten record against the so-called top-six – over the past year.

Formation: 4-3-3

Lineup:

Ederson has comfortably slotted as City’s number one, and Guardiola could prolong with the Brazilian in a key encounter against the Reds. Pep Guardiola opted to tweak to the normal four-at-the-back formation at Bournemouth, and this brought the additional player in the attack. Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi seemed to be the preferred ahead of John Stones and Eliaquim Mangala in central defence and it could be a similar case this weekend.

Danilo and Benjamin Mendy looked a potent force while featuring from the right-back and left-back positions respectively but the former could be replaced by Kyle Walker, who will return from a one-match ban.

The midfield dominated the field of play against Bournemouth last time around with Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva, in particular, pulling the strings. Fernandinho also performed his tough tackling duties fairly well and no changes are predicted.

Moving to the forward line, Raheem Sterling is suspended due to his wild celebrations in the 2-1 win over Bournemouth which led to a second yellow card. As a result, Leroy Sane could take up the left-wing with Bernardo Silva on the right-wing whilst Gabriel Jesus could get the preference over Sergio Aguero again for the centre-forward position.

Prediction:

Guardiola has got City playing with a fair having reduced the overall age of the squad. The defence still looks a little shaky with the full-backs yet to find a coordination among themselves at the back. Predicting it will be an open game – with Liverpool also in form – a high-scoring draw seems a probable result.

Manchester City 2-2 Liverpool

Image – Getty