Liverpool resume their hunt for a top-four end with a tricky fixture towards Manchester Metropolis within the Premier League.
Man Metropolis vs. Liverpool
Premier League (27) | Etihad StadiumApril 1, 2023 | 12.30pm (BST)
It has been some time since Liverpool’s disappointing defeat at Bournemouth, however with acquainted faces again in coaching, the Reds will probably be hoping to lastly achieve some consistency on this ultimate quarter of the season.
With Newcastle and Man United taking part in one another on Sunday, at the least one will drop factors, so three factors for Liverpool would make the desk look loads kinder on the finish of the weekend.
Listed here are 10 issues you must know forward of an enormous match for the Redmen.
1. Will Haaland play?
The Norwegian missed his nation’s Euro 2024 qualifiers towards Spain and Georgia with a reported groin damage and is but to be pictured in coaching previous to the match towards Liverpool.
The striker as a substitute returned from worldwide obligation early after which headed to Spain for remedy.
Nevertheless, it’s completely potential that Erling Haaland will play, and that Pep Guardiola is simply maintaining his playing cards near his chest.
In his press convention on Friday, his supervisor stated: “Erling is recovering. We’ll see this afternoon. The final coaching is at 4pm and we’ll see how he feels.”
In any case, Man Metropolis haven’t performed too badly with out him over the previous couple of years.
Phil Foden, in the meantime, was dominated out earlier within the week after present process appendix surgical procedure.
Attainable Metropolis XI: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Ake; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan; Bernardo, Haaland, Grealish
2. A troublesome place to go
They’ve been unfortunate a few instances however Liverpool’s Champions League victory, on the Etihad in 2018, stays their final win away towards Man Metropolis.
From the 5 video games performed at Metropolis’s floor since then, Liverpool have taken simply two factors, nonetheless, their fortunes at Anfield have been very completely different.
In matches not on the Etihad, Liverpool have a significantly better file and upset the percentages, earlier this season, to beat Guardiola’s workforce at Anfield.
3. Diaz again within the body
Luis Diaz hasn’t been seen in Liverpool pink for practically six months, however the Colombian not far off a return now.
After coaching with the workforce this week, he has edged nearer to a comeback, nonetheless, it could be clever for Jurgen Klopp to ease him again in after his preliminary restoration was delayed when he required knee surgical procedure throughout the World Cup.
Sadly, he’s not to make the squad for the Man Metropolis match, however he might function within the coming weeks.
“Luis is again in small elements of coaching after a really very long time out.
“Subsequent week we’ll improve that [intensity] after which he’s prepared, I feel. We have now to guage him every single day how he offers with the depth, it seems actually promising,” Klopp stated.
4. Key stats for you
Ought to Mo Salah rating he’ll grow to be the Reds’ main scorer away from house within the Premier League period. He’s at the moment on 55 targets, alongside Michael Owen
Salah might grow to be the primary Liverpool participant in historical past to attain towards Man Metropolis in 4 video games in the identical season, having already netted within the Group Defend, Premier League and League Cup
By no means earlier than have the groups drawn three successive league video games in Manchester
5. Sticking with Gakpo?
The Dutchman missed the primary a part of the worldwide break with sickness however did play 45 minutes towards Gibraltar on Monday, changing the former-Liverpool participant, Gini Wijnaldum, at halftime.
With Diaz again within the image and Diogo Jota persevering with to regain his match health, Cody Gakpo‘s spot within the beginning XI could come underneath menace.
Count on Klopp to stay with the January signing towards Man Metropolis, although, as too Darwin Nunez after a minimize to his ankle that pressured his withdrawal from worldwide obligation.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Elliott; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo
6. No Naby once more
Liverpool’s already-depleted midfield suffered one other blow this week as Naby Keita returned from worldwide obligation with an damage subject.
Klopp confirmed the studies earlier than the weekend’s match in Manchester, saying: “Naby is out. He got here again with a muscle damage from the nationwide workforce.
“We are going to see how lengthy it takes however the season shouldn’t be too lengthy.”
Promisingly, although, Klopp is hopeful of seeing Thiago return to “elements” of workforce coaching subsequent week after lacking the final eight video games with a hip damage.
7. “Like a Champions League week”
The subsequent few fixtures are among the many trickiest {that a} Premier League membership can face.
Within the subsequent week alone, Liverpool play Man Metropolis, Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and table-toppers Arsenal at Anfield – a run Klopp described as being “like a Champions League week.”
They’re simply the primary three video games in a month of seven fixtures, from which the Reds might want to take at the least 15 of the 21 factors on supply if they’re to realistically have any probability of qualifying for subsequent season’s Champions League.
Liverpool are at the moment seven factors behind Tottenham in fourth however have two video games in hand on the North London membership.
8. Again after a break
Seventeen days have handed since Liverpool fell to a 1-0 loss at Bournemouth.
As soon as once more, the Reds been given the Saturday lunchtime kick-off following a global break.
It’s the sixth time already this season that Liverpool have performed within the 12.30pm slot – probably the most within the league together with Saturday’s opponents.
Klopp’s aspect haven’t gained any of their early kick-offs thus far, dropping two and drawing three – 4 of these 5 matches have been away from house.
Now wouldn’t be a foul time to get the primary, Reds!
9. Hooper in cost
Simon Hooper has been named because the referee for Saturday’s assembly sport on the Etihad.
It is going to be the official’s third Liverpool sport of the season, with the newest fixture coming at Anfield for February’s Merseyside derby.
Hooper may have a troublesome job on Saturday because the fixtures between Klopp and Guardiola’s workforce are at all times frantic and fraught with incidents.
John Brooks is the VAR.
10. Comply with the match with TIA
Man Metropolis vs. Liverpool is stay on BT Sport 1 with kick-off at 12.30pm (BST).
TIA’s matchday stay weblog will probably be up and working from 11.45am, with Sam Millne tasked with maintaining you entertained and up-to-date.
Come on you Reds!
