Source: TheGuardian
Liverpool v Manchester City: Premier League – live!
Minute-by-minute report as league leaders meet the championsLiverpool’s trident v Man City’s front three: which has the edge?‘We are never underdogs’: Pep Guardiola undaunted by AnfieldEmail simon.burnton@theguardian.com | Tweet @Simon_Burnton 3.54pm GMT Here’s the PA Media take on the line-ups:Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp went with his tried-and-tested big-game line-up for the visit of Manchester City.That meant four changes from the Champions League win over Genk with Andy Robertson returning at left-back, Jordan Henderson coming back into midfield and Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane rejoining the forward line. 3.43pm GMT Andy Hunter had a chat with Alisson this week. Here’s his interview:Last season we had a great experience, an almost perfect season. We lost one game and that one game was against City. We know how big this game is for us. We know how big the game is for everyone – for them and for our fans. In the end it is just three more important points but Manchester City have been the best team in the league for the last few years so we need to give everything to win this game. We don’t want to feel how we felt last season. Being second by just one point means we know that we need to give everything in every game if we want to become Premier League champions. We want it and we will try to do it. Related: Liverpool’s Alisson: ‘We don’t want to feel how we felt last season’ 3.37pm GMT So Ederson, as advertised, is missing and Claudio Bravo starts in his place behind a back four of Walker-Stones-Fernandinho-Angelino. Otherwise the teams look entirely surprise-free.How we’re lining-up at Anfield Bravo, Walker, Stones, Fernandinho (C), Angelino, Rodrigo, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Sterling, AgueroSubs | Carson, Jesus, Silva, Mahrez, Cancelo, Otamendi, Foden ?? @haysworldwide #LIVMCI #ManCity pic.twitter.com/mucErmvPIw 3.32pm GMT The team news is in, and here are this afternoon’s protagonists:Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Mane. Subs: Milner, Keita, Gomez, Adrian, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lallana, Origi.Man City: Bravo, Walker, Stones, Fernandinho, Jose Angelino, De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Aguero, Sterling. Subs: Gabriel Jesus, Silva, Mahrez, Joao Cancelo, Otamendi, Carson, Foden.Referee: Michael Oliver. 3.25pm GMT And here are Pep Guardiola’s:I’ve never gone into a game feeling like an outsider or an underdog, thinking I am not going to win. I am not going to take the bus to Liverpool thinking I am going to lose the game. That has never happened in my career. Always I try to believe that, if we do the special things we plan to do, we will have our chance to win. Related: ‘We are never underdogs’: Pep Guardiola undaunted by crucial trip to Liverpool 3.23pm GMT Here are Barney Ronay’s pre-match thoughts:There is also something different in the texture of this injury-depleted City team. Guardiola loves midfielders, wants to turn the entire world a shade of midfielder, would ideally simply substitute the word “midfielder” for the word footballer. Three months into the season this team has gone Full Midfielder. Seven City midfielders have scored a league goal. Eight City midfielders have started five league games or more, compared with three career defenders. Related: Pep Guardiola to set City scheme to the extreme for Anfield summit | Barney Ronay 3.18pm GMT Manchester City’s team coach has arrived at Anfield, where it was given a peaceful if not entirely friendly welcome:.@ManCity bus arrives with a few verbals thrown but nothing else pic.twitter.com/IAWoeWXFEB 3.13pm GMT I have a lot of pre-match reading for you. Honestly, tell everyone in the room to go away for an hour or so, because you’re going to be too busy staring at your phone/tablet/other device to interact in any meaningful way. First off: Mane-Firmino-Salah or Sterling-Aguero-whoever? That is the question: Related: Liverpool’s trident v Manchester City’s front three: which has the edge? 2.14pm GMT Hello world!And welcome to the first leg of this season’s Premier League title play-off! Both teams will I’m sure be looking forward to a bit of genuine competition, away from the 36 mildly glorified irritant friendlies which occupy the majority of their domestic attentions. Whoever wins this one will carry an advantage into the second leg, scheduled for the weekend of 4 April, though the nine-point deficit City will be lumbered with should they lose, coupled with Liverpool’s ongoing refusal to be beaten by anyone under any circumstances, might make that one immaterial. Related: Mahrez penalty miss leaves Liverpool and Manchester City at impasse Related: Liverpool and Mohamed Salah put thrilling end to Manchester City’s run Related: Liverpool’s stunning first-half salvo leaves Manchester City’s hopes on rocks Related: Georginio Wijnaldum gives Liverpool deserved win against Manchester City Related: The Joy of Six: great Liverpool v Manchester City matches | Scott Murray Continue reading......read full article
