Liverpool forward Sadio Mane is going to be crucial in the fight against Manchester City when they meet on Sunday evening. The Senegalese has been on fire this term, getting goals and being the knight in shining armour.
With Mo Salah’s sharpness in front of goal reducing a bit, Mane has stepped up to ensure the side keeps getting the three points required. The defence is far from stable like we have come to expect but the team has been surviving.
Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp recently exchanged words regarding Mane’s diving but the player in question insists that if there is contact, he would go down. The Liverpool-City game is crucial as it would widen the points gap to nine points if the Red get a win.
City have had an injury crisis this term which promises to get better in the second half. It only makes sense for the Reds to widen the gap as much as possible now as the second half of the season could prove tricky, especially with more commitments. Man City have what it takes to give Liverpool their first defeat of the season after eleven outings. They defeated them 2-1 in January, repeating that feat would surely hamper Liverpool’s run, just like it did last term.
Klopp has declared that he is playing this game to win, acknowledging his desire to lift the elusive Premier League at Anfield. Guardiola is an intelligent manager, flexible enough to use the resources at his disposals to pull a win.
With the wingbacks likely to have reduced activity, Mane and Firmino combinations are going to be crucial. Salah’s pace would prove instrumental, with Alisson rising to the occasion anytime his defence cracks like that have been doing.
