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By Conor McLarnon
The Reds face Manchester City at the Etihad this Sunday in a fixture which has proved to be chaotic in the last few seasons.
This time last year things were looking a lot different for both sides as the Reds were the one chasing Man City to win the last season’s premier league, ultimately coming up short.
For the first time in five years, it is almost certain that we should expect to see Liverpool finish ahead of a Manchester City side that have been nowhere near the levels they have produced in their recent title-winning seasons.
Back in December, goals from Mo Salah and Cody Gakpo were enough to dispatch the champions with relative ease and manager Arne Slot will be hoping his side can replicate that performance going into the weekend.
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Despite a disappointing run of form City will be motivated by the fact that they have not been beaten by Liverpool at the Etihad since 2018, but now might be the best time for the league leaders to put an end to that run.
City’s squad has been bolstered by their new winter window signings which includes £60 million signing Omar Mamooush who bagged a 30 minute hat-trick against Newcastle last weekend.
Their current absentees include Akanji, Bobb and Cascante, but further team news is expected closer to the match.
For Liverpool squad availability is a bit more complex due to the double game week as well as suspensions looming over Curtis Jones and Arne Slot.
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It was only last week when Slot and Jones were both dismissed after tempers flared amongst both sides in the Merseyside derby, which meant that Slot was forced to communicate via the stands at Villa Park.
However, both have completed their respective suspensions with Jones featuring in the 2-2 draw to Villa with Slot back in the dugout after serving his two-match suspension.
After Liverpool saved a draw in a thrilling 2-2 encounter on Thursday night thanks to Trent Alexander-Arnold, Slot stressed that he wanted to see maximum effort from the players as we approach the business end of the season.
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The fixture list for us is now a few difficult games in a row, but that’s what you have to accept.”
Guardiola has not yet had his conference since his side were humbled by a dominant Madrid, beaten 6-3 on aggregate by current Champions League holders Real Madrid in the play-off round for the last 16 of the competition.
Post match Guardiola shared his concern about City’s form this season implying that they might not be the force they were for so many previous seasons.
He said: “Nothing is eternal.
“We have been extraordinarily extraordinary in the past, but not any more.
“We have 13 games [left in the Premier League] and have to be top four or five to try to be [in the Champions League] again.”
This clash is critical for both sides for different reasons, but one thing is assured and that is this will be a feisty game with drama and chaos likely to unfold.
Liverpool predicted XI
Alisson (GK) – Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson – Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister – Salah, Jota, Diaz
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