by Hoop Blah »
05 Nov 2019 12:07
Vision Accepting all the "getting results when playing badly / playing until the bitter end" plaudits I still think Liverpool are there for the taking .
Mane is carrying the front 3 at the moment , Salah is clearly not right (probably still carrying an injury) and Firmino's game is suffering a little as a consequence. Teams are just not being stretched in the same way as when they're in full flow.
Defensively as good as Van Dijk is, he's not quite as imperious alongside Lovren as he is Matip (or early last season's Gomes). Sterling could have a field day exploiting the space behind Alexander-Arnold with Lovren lumbering over as cover. Got to think Klopp will seriously consider Gomes starting even if he's not in the best of form himself.
Midfield is always interesting with the contrast of Liverpool's industry and City's technique.
Pep has on a couple of occasions made allowances to try and nullify Liverpool by being a little more cautious but I feel if he were to play as City would any other opposition they'll edge it.
I agree on the analysis of Liverpool's current form and potential weaknesses at the back, especially the potential for Sterling to exploit that partnership of Alexander-Arnold and Lovren (if he plays). I can imagine Alexander-Arnold being told to be little more defensive and he has that in his locker too (see his performance against Sane in the same fixture last season, or the season before).
I'm not sure I'd go along with Firmino being that out of sorts though.
Equally though the City defence have looked pretty porous this season and I can see Liverpools front three running them ragged.
It's set up for a cracking game.