The Premier League kicks off in style with Manchester City vs Liverpool. Where do both teams stand at the moment?

Saturday’s Premier League programme kicks off shortly after lunch with a clash between the two best teams of the current season. Manchester City vs Liverpool will be the weekend’s main spectacle. The Citizens have managed to beat the Reds in their last two meetings. Can they do it again for the third time?

The Premier League is still very even after 12 rounds played, with only 3 points separating the top 5 teams. But now comes the period when the bread is breaking in England. Traditionally, at the end of January, the main favourites to win the league title start to emerge.

Manchester City

Manchester City, as has been the norm in recent years, dominate most of the statistics. Pep Guardiola’s charges enjoy the highest percentage of ball possession – 59.7%. Likewise, they have the highest pass success rate – 90.1%. However, they no longer dominate the number of shots on target (16.5 per game), with Liverpool holding that top spot – 18.1.

Manchester City picked a weaker moment at the turn of October when they lost 3 out of 4 games, twice of which were Premier League. On the road, they failed to beat first Wolves 2-1, then Arsenal 1-0. Add to that the draw from the last league game against Chelsea 4: 4, and you have a complete list of all the Citizens’ falters since the start of the Premier League.

Liverpool

Liverpool have only lost one league game, when they absolutely failed to handle a duel with Tottenham, which they had played very well. However, two red cards sent them to their knees with only seconds to go.

Subsequently, the Reds also faltered in the match against Brighton (2: 2), but the biggest loss was the clash with Luton, which ended in a 1: 1 draw. Luis Díaz saved an extra point at the very end.

Injuries

Citizens fans were worried about Erling Haaland, who was injured during the national break. Fortunately for them, it was nothing serious and he should be on the pitch from the start on Saturday. Liverpool, too, should feature at the Etihad Stadium with practically the strongest line-up.

Manchester City vs Liverpool

Manchester City are big favourites to win. Liverpool are not doing too well away from home, they have won only 2 times out of 6 league games. On the other hand, the Reds have only found an opponent in one of their last 23 league games.

Meanwhile, Klopp’s squad has been a nightmare for Guardiola for a long time, reaching a streak of 5 games without defeat. They have won the last 3 games of that streak. But the Citizens defied the odds and beat Liverpool in the EFL Cup last December.

Manchester City did the same in the Premier League in April, beating the Reds 4-1. But that was a very different situation to the one we have now. That doesn’t change the fact that they will be home favourites. However, Klopp can play his biggest rival in recent years, will he show it on Saturday?

Source: Premier League, Liverpool