Man City will look to wing it against Liverpool in the Premier League

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • A top-of-the-table clash, emerging rivalry and an enviable array of attacking talent; Sunday’s meeting between Liverpool and Manchester City should be one to savour.

    Here, we look at the tactics Sky Blues boss Pep Guardiola should consider at Anfield.

    Check out Liverpool’s tactics here.

    CREATE THE OVERLAP

    man city-1

    It’s a regular sight for all City watchers.

    The ball is worked out wide, a winger or full-back rolls the ball across and either a striker or advancing midfielder strokes the low centre home. Simple, but so, so effective – just ask Hoffenheim and Brighton in the last week, alone.

    Against Liverpool, this approach gains greater relevance. In alternating fashion, one of either Trent Alexander-Arnold or Andy Robertson will bomb on – leaving enticing space.

    Robertson was burned off Napoli’s Jose Callejon to tee up Lorenzo Insigne in midweek to inflict Liverpool’s first loss of the season. The likes of Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and Kyle Walker are infinitely capable of doing the same this Sunday.

    SET-PIECE SUCCESS

    man city-2

    Guardiola teams are not thought of as set-piece specialists.

    But a study of the 2017/18 corner statistics in the Premier League places them joint second with eight goals, just one behind leaders Bournemouth and Arsenal.

    Liverpool’s weakness in this area has largely been cured by January’s addition of the statuesque Virgil van Dijk. But with fine margins likely to define the contest at Anfield plus a potential return after nearly two months out for dead-ball master Kevin De Bruyne, this could be a profitable avenue for the champions.

    Centre-back Aymeric Laporte has looked a constant danger at attacking these deliveries, as his goal at Wolverhampton Wanderers shows.

    Recommended