Manchester City – Liverpool Prediction & Picks (10.04.2018)

Manchester City and Liverpool face each other in Etihad Stadium, in a return match of this phase of the UEFA Champions League (Quarter-finals), after in the first leg Liverpool won at home (3-0). The history of direct matches played in this stadium is favorable to the home team, who in the last 5 games won 3, drew 1 and lost 1. Indeed, the last time these two teams played a game in this stadium, in 09 -09-2017, for the Premier League, Manchester City won by (5-0). S. Agüero (24 ‘), Gabriel Jesus (45’ e 53 ‘) and L. Sané (77’ e 90 ‘) scored the goals for Manchester City.

Manchester City:

After the defeat in the first leg, the home team reaches this disadvantaged game at a disadvantage, since they need to recover 3 goals of disadvantage and have not scored any goals in the previous match. In the last match that they disputed, for the Premier League, they lost with Manchester United at home, (2-3). In their last 4 home matches for the UEFA Champions League Manchester City has 3 wins and 1 loss. Their attack has scored regularly, since they have scored goals in 8 of the last 9 matches for this competition. In their home matches there is a tendency to have goals, since in 26 of their last 30 matches there were Over 1,5 goals and in 24 of the last 30 there were Over 2,5 goals. In the last 20 home matches for all competitions there is 1 period that stands out: they have conceded 6 of their 17 goals between minutes (61′-75 ‘).

After two defeats in a row, Guardiola’s team does not live the moment in an expected way and in this match you will have to look for a reaction in their domains. We remember that in addition to having lost the first match for Liverpool, also comes a defeat at home to rival Manchester United, for the Premier League. With that defeat at home he failed to celebrate the conquest of the title. But that was the only defeat at home in the competition, plus he won all other games, with the exception of one draw. In the Champions League this trend also remained, so it has presented a lot of offensive and defensive quality in these competitions.

For this game the coach must opt ​​for the 4-4-2. In this context we highlight Fabian Delph and Kyle Walker, who must act on the flanks. The most advanced players will probably be Sané, Sterling and Agüero. It is important to highlight the last two, Sterling and Agüero, the top scorers of the team in this competition, each with four goals scored. For this decisive game, the doubt remains for Benjamin Mendy.

Liverpool:

The away team comes to this second leg with an advantage of 3 goals, but suffered 0 goals at home in the first leg. In the last match that they played, for the Premier League, they tied with Everton away by (0-0). In the last 5 away matches for the UEFA Champions League Liverpool have 3 wins and 2 draws.

For this competition, they have not lost any of the last 5 away matches. Their attack has scored regularly, since they have scored goals in 9 of the last 10 matches for this competition. In their away matches there is a tendency to have goals, since in 27 of their last 31 matches there were Over 1,5 goals and in 22 of the last 31 there were Over 2,5 goals.

Despite the draw in their last match, against Everton, the visiting team at least suffered no losses and arrives optimistic for this according to duel, because it has conquered a great advantage for this according to the match, because it can lose by two goals difference. City will have to conquer a victory by four goals difference. It is important to note that for the Premier League, in seventeen games as a visitor he accumulated nine wins, four draws and four defeats, that is, he won most of the matches, as well as the Champions League, as a visitor, he also won victories in its mostly In these two competitions has presented a great offensive performance, however, has left more defensive space for the Premier League within this context.

For this decisive duel the technician Jürgen Klopp should opt for the 4-3-3. In this tactical scheme we highlight T. Alexander-Arnold and A. Moreno, who must act on the flanks. The most advanced players will probably be M. Salah, S. Mané and R. Firmino. We highlight that M. Salah and R. Firmino are the top scorers, with eight goals scored each in the competition. For this game the coach does not have Joseph Gomez, Adam Lallana, Joel Matip and Emre Can, all injured, in addition to Jordan Henderson, who is serving a suspension.