The Premier League just keeps giving and this time is no different as Liverpool prepare to host
their bitter title rivals Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday 1 December as the climax of EPL round 13 fixtures.
Match background
Liverpool seem like a well-oiled machine under the guidance of new manager Arne Slot, and
they currently have an eight-point gap over the current champions, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester
City at the top of the Premier League.
Over the years, the two sides have gone head-to-head for the title with City coming out on top in
recent occasions.
Who will earn the bragging rights in this potential early title decider? After all,
every point counts and neither side would want to miss out on gaining an early advantage.
What the teams are saying
“a healthy advantage but we also know what we had to put into it to get this lead and to get
these wins,” Slot explained.
“And I only have to show the players there were maybe one or two games for us that were won
by a big margin, but the rest of them were all by small margins.”
The match will be available on GOtv Supa+ Package
On the other hand, Pep Guardiola is aware that if his team continues their losing streak, their
chances of retaining the title might get slimmer.
“We are a bit fragile right now, but we cant run away. We have to face it. I would like to say
there is just one reason for losing three Premier League games in a row. There are many details
that we have to fix,” said Guardiola.
Sunday 1 December
– 19:00 EAT: Liverpool v Manchester City – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League
Players to watch
Mohamed Salah, Liverpool – The Egyptian attacker is in impeccable shape this season,
scoring 10 goals and providing six assists in 12 Premier League matches. He will be keen to
show his employers that he’s worthy of a contract extension with rumours of him leaving the
Reds as a free agent growing by the day.
Erling Haaland, Manchester City – The striker was not on target in City’s heavy 4-0 defeat at
the hands of Tottenham Hotspur and a goal in this fixture will silence his critics and possibly put
an end to the Sky Blues’ dismal form.
Head-to-head
In head-to-head stats, Liverpool and Man City have met in 226 matches across all competitions
since 1893.
The Reds have claimed 108 wins compared to 60 for the Citizens, while 58 matches have been
drawn.
City are unbeaten in their last four matches against Liverpool, including successive 1-1
Premier League draws last season.
What the teams are saying
Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister on the evolution of the team under Arne Slot:
“So, the system has changed a little, but the main ideas are the same. I think perhaps the big
change is in having that patience to have longer periods of possession and dominate games more
and obviously that creates more chances.”
Man City’s Pep Guardiola on bouncing back after their recent rocky form:
“When the players come back I have no doubts we’ll be back to the best. This is my challenge, I
love a challenge. I won’t step back, more than ever I want to do it. We will try again. It looks like
excuses. This is what I feel. When we play bad, I’m the first to say. I don’t have that feeling.”
Mohamed Salah, Liverpool – The Egyptian forward has played some of the best football of his
career in the early stages of Arne Slot’s tenure at Liverpool. Racking up a healthy number of goals
and assists, Salah has firmly re-established himself as one of the Premier League’s most deadly
attacking players.
Erling Haaland, Man City – Though City have had their struggles this season, their Norwegian
powerhouse striker has continued to bang in the goals with impressive regularity.
The Citizens will hope Haaland can inspire them to a key victory at Anfield come Sunday evening.
