Na former champions dey jam current champions. Blue dey face Red. Manchester City vs Liverpool — di Etihad Stadium go host another hot chapter for dis strong rivalry between two of England’s biggest teams come Sunday afternoon.
Both teams dey desperate to grab three points so dem no go allow Arsenal widen di gap on top table. If Arsenal beat Sunderland on Saturday, dem fit go nine points clear of City and 10 ahead of Liverpool.
Pep Guardiola boys don bounce back well after dat 1-0 loss to Aston Villa, with a 3-1 home win against Bournemouth, then later scatter Borussia Dortmund 4-1 for Champions League on Wednesday.
For Arne Slot side, Liverpool don end their poor run of six losses in seven games — dem beat Villa 2-0 for Anfield last weekend, and later edge Real Madrid 1-0 midweek for Champions League.
Whenever City and Liverpool jam, drama dey guaranteed. Na match wey always get tension, skill, and pride. But e dey usually boil down to who go win key battles for pitch. Here na three battles to watch closely for dis blockbuster.
Erling Haaland vs Virgil van Dijk
Everybody go gree say Erling Haaland na one of di deadliest strikers for Premier League dis season. Keeping am quiet na real wahala — most defenders don suffer am.
Haaland don score 18 goals in just 14 matches across Premier League and Champions League dis season. For Etihad alone, e don net 10 goals for seven games — including braces for him last four home league games. But when e meet Liverpool, e story dey different — e don lose five out of eight matches against dem and only score three goals. Virgil van Dijk fit be di reason behind that.
Van Dijk still dey among di best centre-backs for di league even though people don question some of him recent form. Liverpool defence don concede 22 goals for 16 games all competitions, so Slot go need Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate to hold ground well on Sunday.
City like to play long passes now, so if Liverpool wan stop Haaland from running behind or flicking ball go front for him teammates, Van Dijk must use him defensive sense and aerial power. Nobody for Premier League don win more aerial duels (47) or make more clearances (90) than Van Dijk dis season — almost double Haaland own (24).
Jeremy Doku vs Conor Bradley or Dominik Szoboszlai
Since Jeremie Frimpong still dey injured, Arne Slot go need decide whether to use Conor Bradley or Dominik Szoboszlai for right-back. Bradley just shine against Vinicius Junior for di Real Madrid match — e win all him tackles and make seven recoveries. Dat kind display fit earn am another start so Szoboszlai fit return to midfield beside Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister.
But whichever one Slot pick, dem go face serious test from Jeremy Doku — di City dribbling machine wey don lock down di left wing. Doku dey close to him 100th appearance for City and e no dey play. Only three players for Premier League don assist pass am dis season (three assists).
Doku finish last season as di player wey complete most dribbles (107), and after 10 games dis season, e still dey second with 27 — just behind Mohammed Kudus (34). Bradley or Szoboszlai go need full focus to handle that kind wahala for wing.
Mohamed Salah vs Nico O’Reilly
Mohamed Salah never really reach him full level dis season, but him form don begin warm up again. Di Egyptian king don score back-to-back for Premier League — against Brentford and Aston Villa — and he go likely face City young star Nico O’Reilly.
O’Reilly don enjoy strong start to di season, so much say Thomas Tuchel don even call am into England squad. With Josko Gvardiol moving to centre-back and Rayan Aït-Nouri just returning from injury, O’Reilly go still start left-back. He even score him first goal of di season for City 3-1 win against Bournemouth last weekend.
Di big question be whether O’Reilly go tone down him attacking runs to focus on defending Salah. Di 20-year-old, wey stand 6ft 4in, get power and speed — and e go fancy him chance against Salah. Guardiola trust am well — only Ruben Dias don play more minutes for City defence dis season. Plus, O’Reilly lead City defenders for tackles and interceptions combined (27) so far for league.
Na tactical and physical war we go see for Etihad — every duel fit change di game. Expect fire from both ends as City and Liverpool try prove who still run England football.
— The Pidgin Blog go run full post-match tori sharp sharp once ball stop rolling.
