This Liverpool – Manchester City is one of the famous six-point matches. These few meetings between direct opponents which decide the outcome of the title race. And even if the month of December is barely emerging, this clash of the 13th day of the Premier League already promises to be almost decisive between two teams in very different states of form.
On the one hand, captain Virgil van Dijk and the Reds have had a string of 14 wins and a draw (2-2 at Arsenal) since September 14, the date of their only defeat this season, against Nottingham. Add to that a five out of five in the Champions League including a final convincing success against Real Madrid (2-0).
On the other hand, already eight points behind their opponents today, the reigning champion is ill. And that’s an understatement to say. Stunned by three defeats in a row in the league, the Citizens have not won any of their last six matches in all competitions. End of their loss, an improbable fiasco this Tuesday against Feyenoord (3-3), where they let slip a three-goal advantage in the space of a quarter of an hour.
Slot confident despite injuries
“Now, in the first moments (of adversity), I don’t know how we will react,” admitted Pep Guardiola, close to self-harm this week in the Champions League. Anfield represents “the best test” possible because the blows will come “and that’s when we have to stand together as a team”.
Winning at Liverpool would be a huge achievement for the Spanish coach who, since his arrival in 2016, has only won once. In a stadium emptied by the pandemic, in February 2021, the Citizens made the difference at the end of the match (4-1). On Sunday, we will have to battle against hostile stands, as Kylian Mbappé’s Real Madrid experienced on Wednesday.
The Reds won a 17th victory in 19 games this season. But they left feathers, with the injuries of defenders Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konaté. “Since the start of the season, everyone I selected to start has responded and that’s what’s going to happen on Sunday,” said coach Arne Slot on Wednesday, even before their withdrawal was announced. act.
Liverpool have so far thwarted all medical problems, even when they concerned number one goalkeeper Alisson Becker, right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold and the only summer signing, Federico Chiesa. These glitches concerning major players did not find the same media coverage as when they affected Arsenal and Manchester City. “Usually people only talk about injuries if the results aren’t there,” Slot said.
Watch out for the injured beast
The winning machine of Manchester City, the reigning four-time English champion, began to derail under the weight of absences, starting with that of defensive midfielder Rodri, 2024 Golden Ball, then his understudy , Mateo Kovacic. Other regular starters have been betrayed by their body, such as Jack Grealish, John Stones, Jérémy Doku and especially Kevin De Bruyne.
“We played two or three weeks without four central defenders and two defensive midfielders. But little by little, the players are coming back,” Guardiola underlined on Friday.
The 2023 European champion looks bad, but Slot is wary of the injured beast and his trainer, never short of innovative ideas. “One of the reasons why I think Pep Guardiola is the best manager in the world is because he always finds solutions,” the Dutchman said. The current problem may be Rodri’s absence, but we all know he will find a solution and their form will return. After Sunday, I hope. »