This Tuesday,
Liverpool travel to the Etihad Stadium in a bid to reach the
Semi-Finals of the UEFA Champions League. They arrive in Manchester
set to play a City side that simply looks to have come off the rails
a touch.
Following the 3-0
reverse at Anfield, City endured a damaging 3-2 loss at home to
rivals Manchester United. Being 2-0 up at half time, the Citizens
watched the dream of sealing the title at home to United blow up in
their face. Conceding 6 in 2 games is very unlike City; can they
recover here in style?
Home News
For the home side,
the return of star striker Sergio Aguero can only be a good thing. He
came on (and should have had a penalty) in the Manchester Derby, and
loves a goal against the Reds.
Meanwhile, Kevin de
Bruyne and Kyle Walker will return to the line-up. Vincent Kompany
may miss out, though, meaning that John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi
will likely line-up in the defence for City.
Away News
For the Reds, the
midfield is looking bare. Emre Can is almost certainly out and Jordan
Henderson misses out with suspension. This means that Alex
Oxlade-Chamberlain, Georginio Wijnaldum and James Milner will likely
play a third game in six days.
Mohamed
Salah should make the game, giving Liverpool attacking impetus
alongside Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane. Andrew Robertson and Trent
Alexander-Arnold should return to the full-back slots. The Reds got
out of Goodison Park with a 0-0 playing a shadow side in Saturday’
Merseyside Derby, which should bode well for their fitness going into
a crucial away tie.
Verdict
We reckon City will
win this one – but not enough to get through to the Semi-finals.
Liverpool have looked more resolute in recent times, and if Mohamed
Salah can make the game then we can see the Reds getting a crucial
away goal. Just one away goal means City need 5, after all. City to
win, Liverpool to progress.
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