Liverpool and Manchester City are preparing to go head to head in their much anticipated Champions League quarter final. There's bound to be an electric atmosphere at Anfield where Liverpool have already beaten City 4-3 this season in the Premier League. That win has to help Liverpool going into tonight's game because they know they can beat Pep Guardiola's side. So many teams have been beaten by City before a ball is kicked but their players won't have that experience when 7.45 comes around.
This tie could be decided on what happens on one side of the pitch, Liverpool's right and City's left. Liverpool's young righ back Trent Alexander-Arnold will have his work cut out against Leroy Sane and that channel between Alexander-Arnold and Dejan Lovren could be exposed. Alexander-Arnold also has a key role to play when Liverpool attack as he doubles up with Mohamed Salah down City's left. Salah could be going up against Laporte, Zinchenko, Danilo or Delph and the Egyptian will also get his chance to test Nicolas Otamendi.
Gabriel Jesus didn't play at Anfield in January so he'll provide a different test for the Liverpool back four. Virgil van Dijk was also absent for Liverpool that day and he should give the home side a real threat from set pieces. Kevin de Bruyne will have David Silva alongside him this time around so Klopp will have another midfield magician to keep an eye on. Liverpool will need to play with a high tempo to disrupt City which is exactly what they did three months ago and the reward was three goals in the space of nine second half minutes. However it's not sustainable for 90 minutes and that's when City can use their possession game to cause problems.
No manager has had more success against Guardiola than Klopp and that can't be underestimated. Klopp has managed six wins in 12 games against Guardiola with Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool against Bayern Munich and Manchester City respectively so he knows what it takes. City are favourites to win the tie so you feel Liverpool will have to win at Anfield tonight to give them any chance to progressing to the semi finals.
Two teams that like to attack so we're in for a real treat at Anfield and what a night it promises to be for Celbridge teenager Conor Masterson. The former Lucan United player is set to be named on the bench for Liverpool who are without the services of Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan.
Liverpool v Manchester City - KO 7.45
