Manchester City vs Liverpool, 4.30 Etihad Stadium
These Two Premier League heavy weights go head to head in what should be a Super Sunday feast.
Although the Premier League season is still in its infancy, the champions will open up a significant eight-point lead over City if they emerge from the Etihad with all three points.
Pep Guardiola remains without top stars Aguero, Mendy and Fernandinho, but Jesus is available and raring to go after making his long awaited return in the Champions League win against Olympiakos on Tuesday.
City went ahead early in the match but looked in danger of conceding until the Brazilian’s introduction swung things back in their favour and he doubled the lead with an emphatic finish from a tight angle.
The striker will likely be joined in the front three by Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden, who played excellently against Jurgen Klopp’s side the last time the two teams met.
Kevin De Bruyne is a sure starter and he will likely be accompanied by Rodri, who was rested on Tuesday, and Bernardo Silva or Ilkay Gundogan.
Liverpool have now won a league-high 28 points from losing positions since the start of last season and could win three consecutive Premier League games after conceding the opening goal for the first time ever on Sunday. These results easing the concern of how they would cope with-out Van Dijk.
Of course, Klopp would much rather his side get their noses in front first and keep it that way, but he will also be aware that his patched-up defence, which has seen Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams utilised at centre-back since Fabinho joined Van Dijk on the injured list, will rarely come up against a bigger test than Man City away.
A significant test was also expected against free-scoring Atalanta BC in midweek too, but the Reds made it three wins and three clean sheets from three Champions League games courtesy of an eyebrow-raising 5-0 win in Bergamo.
Diogo Jota was the star of that show with a hat-trick, while Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah also looked very sharp, but it was another clean sheet with Rhys Williams at the back which may have pleased Klopp the most.
Prediction:
Over 3.5 Match Goals @7/4
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