Predicted XI

Foden to start? - How Manchester City could line-up against Liverpool

Foden started on the bench against Burnley, but his impressive form means he's likely to return against Liverpool

 
9:01am on Saturday 6th February 2021
By
Cameron Smith

Table toppers Manchester City travel to Anfield to face the champions Liverpool in a game billed as a potential title decider.

Pep Guardiola has got his City side purring, whilst Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool seem to be stumbling with the impact of injuries looming over their head.

Guardiola has instilled a defensive solidity into Manchester City this season, and it's stemmed from Ruben Dias and John Stones' incredible partnership.

They've conceded just one Premier League goal, Callum Hudson-Odoi's late consolation for Chelsea, whilst being on the pitch together, and they'll need to be at their best to stop Mohamed Salah, who despite hitting a patch of poor form, is still the Premier League's top scorer.

Behind the rock solid pairing of Dias and Stones will be Ederson, who has been a capable set of hands ever since his move from Portugal to Manchester.

Joao Cancelo has arguably been City's best performer this season, and whilst he starts as a full-back, he more often than not, drifts infield and play alongside Rodri in central midfield.

Cancelo will start on the right, and on the left is likely to be Oleksandr Zinchenko. Aymeric Laporte started at left-back against Burnley in midweek, but the Ukraine international may well come back in.

Rodri has held it together nicely in defensive midfield, and allows the likes of Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva to move forward to devastating effect.

Gundogan was scored seven Premier League goals already this season, his best ever, and looks reinvented as a more attacking force.

Phil Foden was dropped for the Burnley game, but his impressive form, and Riyad Mahrez's lack of such, means the Englishman should start on the right wing.

Buoyed by midweek goals, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus will round off the attack, with Sergio Aguero and Kevin de Bruyne still missing.

Manchester City vs Liverpool - Football tactics and formations

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