Will Phil Foden Shine Again? The Key Battles in Liverpool Vs Manchester City

Liverpool host Manchester City at Anfield on March 10 in a key battle in this season’s Premier League title race. The Reds head into the fixture one point ahead of their opponents and will be looking to widen that gap to give them a buffer heading into the final stretch of the campaign.

For Pep Guardiola’s City, it presents a chance to leapfrog their rivals but to do so will require them to pick up only their second win at Anfield in 21 years.

A Look At The Key Battles That Could Decide Liverpool Vs Manchester City

Darwin Nunez & Erling Haaland Battle for Goals

Liverpool were hugely boosted by the return of Darwin Nunez in their last Premier League outing with the Uruguyuan netting a 99th-minute winner at Nottingham Forest. The Reds’ number 9 has really found his groove as the season has progressed, netting in each of his last three league appearances as well as two in his last outing against Sparta Prague on March 7.

This game feels tailor-made for Nunez with City’s backline showing signs of vulnerability of late, particularly to direct runners in behind, evidenced in the chances and goals conceded against Chelsea and Manchester United. The Champions’ trip to Bournemouth wasn’t straightforward either and the Cherries will have rued their missed opportunities while, despite a strong lineup in the FA Cup, Pep Guardiola’s side still shipped two goals to lowly Luton Town.

At the other end, Erling Haaland remains his usual potent threat, however, he has shown that even he is human with an uncharacteristic collection of missed chances in recent fixtures, including a howler against United last weekend. His volleyed effort over the bar in that game was worth 0.89xG.

It was the sort of miss that Nunez himself has almost become infamous for, however the Norwegian did find the net at the end of the game and was on target four times in the cup win at Luton. With a winner against Brentford and a goal in the 3-1 win over Copenhagen in the Champions League, it’s seven goals in five games for the striker since the clash with Chelsea.

Haaland (26) and Nunez (21) have missed the most big chances in the Premier League this season which might point to wayward finishing but really just highlights the high number of quality opportunities their teams create for them.

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In-Form Foden

One man whose form cannot be questioned is that of Phil Foden. The midfielder found the net twice in the Manchester derby in their last league fixture to turn the game around after City fell behind whilst he also scored the winner in the victory over Bournemouth on February 24. It takes his tally up to 11 league goals and 18 in all competitions, making this his best-ever scoring campaign already. Along with his 10 assists, he is a key creative cog for Guardiola as the season approaches its business end.

Foden’s versatility is such an asset for Manchester City as well and his two goals against Man United sum that up with one coming from the right-hand side, where he started the game, and one from the left. Andy Robertson had a tough time out in the game against Sparta Prague in the week so if Foden starts on the right for the visitors it could prove to be a decisive battle.

The England international was also instrumental in Guardiola’s only win at Anfield as City’s boss back in 2021, scoring and assisting in a 4-1 win. The Cityzens will be hoping he produces similar this time out.

Shaky Defences to Decide Liverpool vs Manchester City?

With only Arsenal having conceded fewer goals than both of these two sides, referring to their defences as shaky might seem harsh, however based on the high standards each title challenger has set this season, there is slight vulnerability at the back for both sides.

Liverpool have accumulated 33.2 xG conceded in the league, although they have only conceded 25 times. City, on the other hand, have registered only one clean sheet away from home in the league since October.

The Reds have usually been able to count on the ever-reliable Alisson in goal to protect against their high-risk defensive approach however with his injury, Liverpool should theoretically be weaker.

The reality has been different though with Klopp’s side registering three clean sheets in a row for the first time this campaign prior to their Europa League game with Sparta Prague and stand-in goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has made a string of vital saves across all of those matches. He also impressed in the Carabou Cup final, where he repeatedly denied Chelsea’s forwards despite numerous chances.

For Guardiola’s side, one could expect that playing with anywhere between three and four centre-backs would make them more rigid but, as already mentioned, their backline has been exposed of late with an occasional reliance on Kyle Walker’s incredible recovery pace to bail them out.

John Stones has taken tactical flexibility to another level in recent times, not just stepping into midfield but finding himself as high as a Number 10 would and that freedom certainly creates a whole new set of problems for opponents.

The question remains as to whether that has left some structural issues in the team and whether certain gaps are not being plugged. If anyone has the ability to take advantage of that, it is Liverpool.

Midfield Battle Will be Key in Liverpool vs Manchester City

Guardiola loves to find new ways to dominate midfield from inverted full-backs to Stones’ recent exploits in the final third. Such is his detailed tactical planning and creativity, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Spaniard pull out another innovation to get the better of the Reds.

There’s no doubt though that regardless of whatever tactical ploy he comes up with, he has the two best midfielders in the world at his disposal. There is no one better at both destroying and igniting attacks than Rodri whilst no player can pass or cross a ball better than Kevin De Bruyne.

Regardless of tactics, those two can win City the game, especially with Rodri knowing where and when to pop up and help a little higher up the pitch, as seen with his late equaliser against Chelsea.

For Liverpool, Klopp will be hopeful that he can have the rare luxury of Wataru Endo, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai available. It’s a midfield trio that has rarely featured together since they all joined the club last summer.

Of those three, the standout player of late has undoubtedly been Mac Allister. A mixed start to life at Anfield was followed by a brilliant January where he filled in excellently as a Number 6 in Endo’s absence. As Klopp continued to negotiate injuries, and with Endo’s return from Asian Cup duty, Mac Allister has pushed forward once more into the Number 8, the position many regard as being his strongest.

The Argentinian has scored two of his three goals for the club in Liverpool’s last six games as well as registering four assists in that time. Getting him on the ball and impacting the game will be vital for the Reds if they are to gain control over a normally possession-dominant City.

Mohammed Salah Fit to Return

One player who could have a huge impact is Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian had returned from injury in the win over Brentford on February 17 but had to sit out the Reds’ next four matches with his problems recurring.

Liverpool’s top scorer was back in the side for the win over Sparta Prague, coming on in the 74th minute and finding the net, only for it to be ruled out after VAR intervention.

In 19 appearances against City for the Reds, Salah has scored 11 goals and registered 6 assists, including the winner the last time Klopp’s side won this fixture in October 2022, so his presence could be vital in deciding the outcome of this huge clash.

It’s a tough one to call but Liverpool vs Manchester City has served as one of the classic fixtures of recent times and with both sides deadly in front of goal and vulnerable at the back, expect a thrilling encounter.