We believe that very few expected that Liverpool will have advantage of even three goals after the 1st leg, especially as their rival is the most serious candidate to win the title in English Premier League, Manchester City. However, team led by manager Klopp had demolished the Citizens at the Anfield and won by 3-0, which was at the same time their second ever defeat this season, while last autumn Manchester City won the Reds at home by even 5-0.
Right the result of their last duel at the Etihad gives reason for Manchester City fans for optimism about the coming match, given due to backlog of three goals the Citizens need another perfect match on Tuesday evening. In the meantime atmosphere in their locker room got worse as they lost in the Premier League to their city rival Manchester United 3-2, which meant that they too dropped a chance to win the title of English champions after just 32 rounds.
The defeat was very painful manager Guardiola if we have in mind that his team had a lead at the halftime of 2 goals but we need to add that he rested several standard starters for bigger part of match in order to keep them rested for the 2nd leg with the Reds in the Champions League. Let’s add that unlike their last week’s match this time in the starting 11 should be recovered forwards Aguero and Sterling, and defenders Stones and Delph, while still out of action is only injured defender Mendy.
Probable lineups Manchester City: Ederson – Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Delph – de Bruyne, Fernandinho, D. Silva – Sterling, Aguero, Sane
The guests from Liverpool are in much better mood ahead of the 2nd leg given that six days ago they defeated Manchester City by even 3-0 at the Anfield, and now everything is up to them regarding reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League. However, they are fully aware that nothing is over yet, especially as they were already defeated by 5-0 at the Etihad this season in the leguae, which means they have to play much better defence now.
True, to qualify for the semi-finals the Reds need even defeat of 2-0 or any defeat with three-goal difference in which they score at least one goal, which team led by manager Klopp is definitely capable to do. On top of it, Klopp rested several standard starters last weekend when they met Everton in the league, which ended as a goalless draw. Let’s add that due to injuries this match will skip defenders Matip and Gomez, and midfielders Can and Lallana, while midfielder Henderson is suspended due to accrued yellow cards.
Probable lineups Liverpool: Karius – Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, van Dijk, Robertson – Oxlade-Chamberlain, Milner, Wijnaldum – Salah, Firmino, Mane
Of course that backlog of three goals from the first match forces the Citizens from Manchester to play maximally risky from the first minute, which means that the guests from Liverpool will have more room for fast counter-attacks. That is why we have opted here for a pick with plenty of goals.
Pick: over 3.5 goals 2.07
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